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Certain robotic vacuum cleaners, including some Roomba-style devices, will be banned under the new U.S. policy restricting foreign-made advanced robotics, federal regulators told FOX Business Thursday.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said robotic vacuums fall under its updated “Covered List” rules adopted Tuesday, making certain new foreign-produced models ineligible for FCC equipment authorization due to national security and cybersecurity risks to U.S. critical infrastructure.
While the agency did not identify specific brands, an FCC spokesperson confirmed to FOX Business that robotic vacuums are among the devices covered by the restrictions.
Major manufacturers including iRobot, SharkNinja, Dyson, Samsung and LG sell robotic vacuums in the U.S., with most production taking place in China, alongside manufacturing operations in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
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However, the restrictions apply only to newly authorized devices and will not affect the many robotic vacuums already in consumers’ homes.
“This action does not impact a consumer’s continued use of devices they previously acquired,” the FCC spokesperson said.
The agency added that previously authorized models may continue to be sold, imported and marketed in the U.S., and it does not “prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import or market relevant models approved previously through the FCC’s equipment authorization process.”
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“We are aware of the FCC’s recent action and are working with them to better understand its implementation and potential impact,” iRobot said. “We remain committed to serving our customers and will share updates as more information becomes available.”
Under the FCC’s new rules, many household robotic cleaners qualify as “advanced robotic devices” because they are mechanical mobile devices capable of locomotion, navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Covered devices generally weigh more than 4.4 pounds and operate near human operators. Their autonomous navigation is either powered by firmware, AI models or sensors via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cellular technology.
That definition could encompass products such as iRobot’s Roomba lineup, SharkNinja’s Shark robotic vacuums, Dyson’s 360 series, Samsung’s Jet Bot line and LG’s CordZero robotic cleaners.
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Roomba, one of the first robotic vacuum brands to gain widespread popularity in the U.S., was introduced by American company iRobot in 2002 but is now owned by Shenzhen Picea Robotics and Santrum Hong Kong.
Picea Robotics, which operates development and manufacturing facilities in China and Vietnam, sells Roomba models starting at $200.
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By comparison, American robotics startup Matic, one of the few U.S.-based competitors that designs and assembles its products domestically in California, sells its robotic vacuums for about $1,245.
FOX Business reached out to SharkNinja, Dyson, Samsung and LG for comment.
