[REVISION HISTORY]

US FCC expands restrictions on foreign drones and robotics

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2026-08-09 08:33 UTC → 2026-08-10 15:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The FCC has continued to tighten controls on foreign‑made drones. In late July 2026, it issued a proposed rule that would prohibit the import, marketing, and sale of military‑grade drones with swarming capability or infrared thermal‑imaging sensors, primarily targeting Chinese manufacturers such as DJI and Autel Robotics. The rule applies only to future imports, exempts components and non‑Chinese drones until January 2028, and opened a 30‑day comment period. On 6 August 2026, the FCC introduced sweeping new restrictions targeting mobile robots weighing more than 2kg (4.4 lbs) that possess onboard sensing and autonomy, including humanoid, quadruped, and autonomous mobile robots (AMR). The new policy also extends to networked power inverters used in solar and battery systems. Following this, on 7 August 2026, the FCC released a public notice expanding its “Covered List” to include drones over 55 lbs, those equipped with thermal‑imaging, LiDAR, agricultural‑spraying systems, docking stations, and swarming technology, as well as related components. The agency highlighted a domestic‑production push, citing more than $5 billion in new investment. DJI has filed a lawsuit challenging the restrictions, warning that the changes could effectively ban civilian tools used by filmmakers and farmers. While the FCC describes the regulations as "country neutral," the move may impact other nations, including Canadian robotics firms. Comments on these proposals are accepted through 2 September 2026. By 10 August 2026, the FCC’s actions were identified as a central component of the Trump administration’s strategy to restrict Chinese technology within U.S. supply chains. Under the leadership of Brendan Carr, the agency is reportedly moving to block Chinese laboratories from testing electronic devices for the U.S. market and is drafting bans on Chinese data center components to protect AI-related infrastructure.

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