Robots in society, business and culture: July 2026

On July 28, the United States' Federal Communications Commission blocked foreign-made " advanced robotic devices " from receiving the equipment authorization needed for sale in the United States, citing supply-chain vulnerabilities and cybersecurity risks . The block applies to networked humanoids, quadrupeds, other qualifying mobile robots weighing more than 4.4 lb. In a parallel action, the FCC also restricted foreign-produced connected power inverters. Existing authorized models are unaffected for now, and exemptions or conditional approvals may be available. Meanwhile, John Moolenaar, a Michigan Republican who chairs the House Select Committee on China, told Reuters that the FCC move "protects our country and strengthens our nation's robotics industry."