FCC blocks new foreign robot dogs and humanoids over national security risks

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday added foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices to its Covered List, generally making new models ineligible for FCC equipment authorization after U.S. national security agencies determined the products pose unacceptable risks to America's critical infrastructure and supply chains. The move comes as federal officials focus on securing the electric grid while electricity demand and reliance on inverter-based resources continue to grow. The FCC said Tuesday's action follows national security determinations by a White House-convened executive branch interagency body concluding foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices create unacceptable cybersecurity and supply chain risks. Power inverters convert direct current electricity into alternating current and are critical components in solar power systems, battery storage facilities and other distributed energy resources.