The FCC Covered List and Buying Unitree or AGIBOT Robots in the US (2026)

On July 28, 2026, the FCC added "foreign-produced advanced robotic devices" to its Covered List. If you are buying a Unitree or AGIBOT robot in the US, or already own one, the practical questions are: can I still buy one, is the robot I own affected, and will it keep getting updates?

This page answers those questions from the FCC's own documents, which are linked throughout so you can read the source text. It is general information, not legal advice. If your organization has compliance obligations, have counsel review the FCC notices for your situation.

Last reviewed October 18, 2026, against the FCC notices listed under Sources.

The short version

• New models are blocked; previously authorized models are not. Equipment on the Covered List cannot receive new FCC equipment authorizations. The FCC says the update "does not prohibit the import, sale, or use of any existing models" it previously authorized (FCC fact sheet).
• Robots you already own are not affected. In the FCC's words, "This action does not affect any previously purchased devices" (same fact sheet).
• Software and firmware updates can continue for robots authorized before July 28, 2026, at least until January 1, 2029 (DA 26-789).
• The rule is about where a robot is produced, not which brand it is. No company is named. The FCC says the new entry is "identified by place of production, not by entity" (DA 26-786).
• Conditional Approvals exempt specific devices. As of the notices below, none of the approved devices is a Unitree or AGIBOT product.

What the FCC actually did

The FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released Public Notice DA 26-786 on July 28, 2026 (PDF). It added two entries to the Covered List, one for power inverters and one for robots:

"Foreign-produced advanced robotic devices, except advanced robotic devices which have been granted a Conditional Approval by DoW."

The FCC did not decide this on its own. Under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, it updates the Covered List at the direction of national security agencies. Here the trigger was a National Security Determination dated July 27, 2026 from a White House-convened interagency body. The determination is attached to DA 26-786 as Appendix C. It found that foreign-produced advanced robotic devices pose two unacceptable risks: "posing a supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt U.S. economic and national security" and "creating a cybersecurity risk that threatens the security of critical infrastructure and thus the safety and security of U.S. persons."

The Covered List itself is published at fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist.

Which robots count as "advanced robotic devices"

The definition is in Appendix C of DA 26-786. Summarized, an advanced robotic device is a mechanical mobile device, including autonomous mobile robots, humanoid robots and quadrupeds, that meets all four tests:

1. It can do locomotion, obstacle avoidance, navigation or movement on the ground.
2. It operates at a distance from a human operator or supervisor, based on commands, sensor data or both.
3. It weighs over 4.4 lb, together with any ground or docking station.
4. It contains all three of:
   • a sensor that can perceive its environment;
   • network connectivity (wired or wireless, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular or satellite) of at least 200 kbps in either direction;
   • software, running locally or remotely and including firmware and AI model weights, that controls its autonomous navigation or movement perception, data collection, or remote command-and-control.

The definition excludes connected vehicles, vehicles operated only on rail lines, uncrewed aircraft, unmanned underwater vehicles, FDA-regulated medical devices, and "a fixed, stationary, non-mobile robot, including articulating, parallel/delta, Cartesian/gantry, or ... SCARA robots intended for industrial or medical use."

"Foreign-produced" means any article that would not qualify as a "domestic end product" under 48 CFR § 25.101(a). The FCC's fact sheet says the determination applies "regardless of the nationality of origin", so robots made in any country other than the US are in scope unless exempted.

What that means for common products. A walking humanoid or a robot dog with cameras or LiDAR, Wi-Fi and onboard autonomy software, such as the Unitree G1 and Go2 or AGIBOT's humanoids and quadrupeds, fits the description of the robots the determination targets. A fixed robot arm on a bench falls under the stationary-robot exclusion when it is intended for industrial or medical use. If you are unsure about a specific product, the FCC's text is the reference, not this summary.

What it does and does not do

It blocks new FCC authorizations

Under 47 CFR § 2.903(a), covered equipment cannot receive an FCC equipment authorization. The FCC's fact sheet explains the effect: "Most electronic devices require FCC equipment authorization prior to importation, marketing, or sale in the U.S. Covered equipment is banned from receiving new equipment authorizations, preventing new devices from entering the U.S. market."

In practice, a robot model that did not already have FCC authorization before July 28, 2026 cannot get one now, unless the device receives a Conditional Approval.

It does not stop sales of previously authorized models

From the same fact sheet: the action does not "prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import, or market relevant models approved previously through the FCC's equipment authorization process."

It does not affect robots already bought, or federal use

The fact sheet says it "does not affect any previously purchased devices" and "does not affect sales to, or use by, the federal government or federal agencies."

Updates can continue, with a deadline to watch

FCC rules adopted in 2025 bar permissive changes to covered equipment, which would have blocked even security patches. The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology waived that bar for robots authorized before July 28, 2026 (DA 26-789). Under the waiver, they "may continue to receive software and firmware updates that mitigate harm to U.S. consumers at least until January 1, 2029," including updates "that patch vulnerabilities and facilitate compatibility with different operating systems." The waiver covers software and firmware updates only. Other permissive-change rules still apply to the manufacturer.

A tool the FCC could use later

In its 2025 Second Report and Order on equipment authorization security (ET Docket No. 21-232), the FCC also created a process to limit existing authorizations "by blocking further importation and marketing of already authorized covered equipment while allowing continued use." That is how the FCC itself summarizes the 2025 order in a draft it published on October 8, 2026 (PDF, para. 24). None of the robotics notices cited on this page applies it to robots. Still, if you are planning a multi-year fleet purchase, it is the part of the rules to keep an eye on.

Conditional Approvals

The National Security Determination set up a process for producers to ask the Department of War (DoW) to find that a device, or a class of devices, does not pose those risks. An approved device is exempt from the Covered List. The FCC asks applicants to write to conditional-approvals@fcc.gov (fact sheet).

Robotic devices approved so far, from the FCC's public notices:

Date	Devices	Notice
September 9, 2026	Husqvarna AB 305v IQ, 310v IQ, 420v IQ and 440v IQ robotic platforms	DA 26-957
September 18, 2026	ANSCER Robotics AR250, AR650 and AR1250 robotic platforms	DA 26-996
October 2, 2026	Matic Robots Robotic Floor Cleaner Model 4MA0001 and Charging Dock Model 4DK0008	DA 26-1063

The approvals are conditional. DA 26-996, for example, says an exemption depends on "continuous compliance with the onshoring plan outlined in its conditional approval application and pursuant to updated vetting of its products," and that failing to comply can return the device to the Covered List. New approvals are added over time, so check the Covered List page for the current list.

What to check before you buy a Unitree or AGIBOT robot

1. Ask for the FCC ID of the exact model and configuration. Radio devices that need certification carry an FCC ID on the label. Look it up in the FCC's FCC ID search and check that the grant covers the model you are buying and is dated before July 28, 2026.
2. Be careful with brand-new models. A model announced after July 28, 2026 that never received FCC authorization is the case the rule blocks.
3. Ask about software updates. Under the waiver, previously authorized robots can keep receiving security and compatibility updates at least until January 1, 2029. Ask the seller how updates are delivered for your unit.
4. Ask about warranty and spare parts in writing. The FCC notices do not address spare parts or repairs. Warranty terms are between you, the seller and the manufacturer.
5. Check your own procurement rules. Some institutions and contracts have their own restrictions on Chinese-made hardware that go beyond the FCC's rule. This page doesn't cover those.

We sell Unitree and AGIBOT robots in the US. Questions about a specific model? Contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still buy a Unitree robot in the US?

The Covered List does not name Unitree. It blocks new FCC authorizations for foreign-produced advanced robotic devices, and the FCC says retailers can keep importing and selling models it authorized before July 28, 2026. Whether a specific model can be sold therefore depends on its FCC authorization. Check its FCC ID.

Is my Unitree G1 or Go2 now illegal to own or use?

No. The FCC's fact sheet says the action "does not affect any previously purchased devices."

Will my robot still get firmware updates?

For robots authorized before July 28, 2026, the FCC has waived the bar on software and firmware updates that mitigate harm to US consumers, at least until January 1, 2029 (DA 26-789).

Does this apply to AGIBOT too?

The rule applies by place of production, not by brand, so it applies to AGIBOT's mobile robots the same way it applies to Unitree's.

Does it apply to robot arms or robot hands?

The definition covers mobile devices and excludes fixed, stationary robots such as articulated arms intended for industrial or medical use. Read the full definition in Appendix C of DA 26-786 for a specific product.

Is this the same as a ban?

Not exactly. It is a bar on new FCC equipment authorizations, which in practice keeps new foreign-produced models out of the US market. Previously authorized models, owned robots and federal use are outside it, as described above.

Sources

All primary sources. The PDFs below were read on October 18, 2026:

• FCC Public Notice DA 26-786 (July 28, 2026): adds foreign-produced advanced robotic devices to the Covered List. Appendix C contains the National Security Determination and definitions. PDF
• FCC fact sheet (July 28, 2026): what the update does and does not do. PDF
• FCC Office of Engineering and Technology DA 26-789 (July 28, 2026): waiver for software and firmware updates. PDF
• FCC Public Notices DA 26-957 (September 9, 2026), DA 26-996 (September 18, 2026) and DA 26-1063 (October 2, 2026): Conditional Approvals for robotic devices. DA 26-957 · DA 26-996 · DA 26-1063
• FCC draft Third Report and Order, ET Docket No. 24-136 (released October 8, 2026), para. 24, which summarizes the 2025 Second Report and Order. PDF
• The FCC publishes the current Covered List, including Conditional Approvals, at fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist, and keeps FAQs on this update at fcc.gov/covered-list-faqs-robots-inverters.

This page will be updated when the FCC publishes new notices on robotic devices. Related: Unitree G1 price and tiers