Intel, the American chip champion, was so confused by the US government’s ban on foreign-made robots that it requested and received a waiver “out of an abundance of caution.” The technology company wanted to ensure it could continue using certain robotic vehicles in its US chip factories.
The uncertainty surrounding the Federal Communications Commission’s ban on certain foreign-made robots was revealed in the agency’s decision to grant Intel’s waiver request. On October 22, the FCC released its order allowing Intel to continue using foreign-made robots in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing facilities for a period of one year.
The robots in question are automatically guided vehicles that operate on “predefined tracks or paths” and often require operator supervision, according to Intel’s website. They help move materials and items within warehouses and factories.
These robotic vehicles are typically manufactured by Japanese companies such as Murata Machinery and Daifuku Co., according to Bloomberg News. But the exact types of robotic vehicles used by Intel were only identified in a “confidential addendum” that accompanied its application.
The FCC ban primarily covers new models of mobile robots, such as humanoid robots and robotic vacuum cleaners, and still allows the importation of robots previously approved for sale in the United States. But the agency’s rules appear to restrict major modifications to “previously authorized devices.”
Intel’s waiver request said it was “unclear” whether its robotic vehicles even qualified as robots covered by the FCC ban, but said it was seeking relief just in case. The technology company also received approval to “make certain hardware, software and firmware changes” that would help ensure the continued operation and maintenance of the robotic vehicles.
