Chinese civilian drone exports to the US fell 60% to 70% year over year after DJI's listing.
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The four-part test buried in the underlying national security determination catches any ground-traveling robot heavier than 4.4 pounds, including its dock, provided it carries an environmental sensor and a network link running at 200 kb/s or faster, and it names "AI or machine-learning model weights" as covered software. The determination, attached as Appendix C to the FCC's public notice, applies to a mechanical mobile device capable of locomotion, obstacle avoidance, navigation, or movement on the ground that operates at a distance from a human operator.
Devices qualify only if they also contain all three of a sensor that perceives its environment, a wired or wireless connection capable of at least 200 kb/s in either direction, and software controlling autonomous navigation, perception, data collection, or remote command and control. Bluetooth satisfies the connectivity test, as do Wi-Fi, cellular, and satellite. FCC media relations director Katie Gorscak confirmed to The Verge that robot vacuums meet the definition.
Six categories are exempted: connected vehicles of any gross weight, rail vehicles, uncrewed aircraft, uncrewed underwater vehicles, FDA-regulated devices including surgical systems and powered wheelchairs, and fixed industrial arms such as SCARA, delta, and gantry designs. Drones were placed on the Covered List separately in December .
Both determinations define "foreign-produced" as anything failing to qualify as a domestic end product under 48 CFR § 25.101(a), the Buy American Act rule. Under that provision, an item must be manufactured in the U.S., and the cost of domestic components must exceed 65% of the cost of all components for goods delivered through 2028, rising to 75% from 2029.
Trump administration reportedly debating ban on Chinese cellular modules in expansion of FCC crackdown
FCC reverses course, allows software updates for foreign-made drones and routers until 2029
Independent cyber audit finds zero malware or backdoors in DJI drones
Key considerations
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/fcc-robot-ban-covers-any-ground-robot-over-4-4-pounds-with-a-200-kbps-connection#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com/membership
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.