Is your robot vacuum getting banned by the federal government? On July 28, the Federal Communications Commission added foreign-produced "advanced robotic devices" to its Covered List, which prevents newly introduced models from receiving the equipment authorization required to be imported, marketed and sold in the United States.
The FCC's announcement noted that the executive branch had determined "these devices threaten national security." The definition is broad enough to capture practically every full-size connected robot vacuum and many robot lawn mowers. A covered robot must move across the ground, operate away from a human supervisor, weigh more than 4.4 pounds (including its dock) and contain environmental sensors, network connectivity and software controlling its movement.
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The restriction is based on where the device is produced, not the nationality of the company selling it. That means a robot from an American brand could still be covered if it is manufactured abroad. New overseas-made models from brands such as Roborock, Samsung, Dreame and other major names will generally be unable to obtain FCC authorization, unless they apply for and receive a waiver.
The government claims the ban is because networked robots create cybersecurity risks, due to how they can collect floor plans, images and other information about the spaces they map. The executive branch warned that foreign actors could potentially use collected data for surveillance or remotely interfere with a robot’s physical operation.
In this article: Shark Matrix Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum, roborock Saros 10R Robot Vacuum and Mop and roborock Qrevo S5V Robot Vacuum and Mop
For anyone who currently owns a robot vacuum or lawnmower, models that received FCC authorization before July 28 can still be used. The government is not recalling, disabling or remotely shutting down devices already inside people’s homes. Retailers may also continue selling and importing previously authorized models.
Navimow tells BestReviews, "We are aware of the FCC’s announcement regarding restrictions to advanced robotic devices. There is no immediate impact to existing Navimow customers, as all Navimow models currently sold in the U.S. have already received FCC equipment authorization. The ban does not affect the sales, service, or continued use of existing products. We are closely monitoring policy developments and evaluating compliance pathways for future products, including the Department of Defense's 'Conditional Approval' process."
Shark Matrix Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
BestReviews named the Shark Matrix our Best Bang for Your Buck robot vacuum for carpet after evaluating multiple models for debris pickup, navigation, mapping and pet hair performance. This vacuum uses Matrix Clean to cover your home in a precision grid, making multiple passes to pick up everything. It also uses 360-degree LiDAR to create maps for room-specific cleaning, scheduling and no-go areas, and can Recharge and Resume to charge in the middle of bigger cleaning jobs.
roborock Saros 10R Robot Vacuum and Mop 44% OFF
This vacuum is great for small spaces, easy to set up and navigates very well. Our editor tested it in a house full of animals though, and noted that if you have pets and carpet you’ll still need a manual vacuum with superior suction to pick up all the stubborn pet hair that tends to cling to carpet too well for a robot vacuum to tackle. It uses a StarSight system that combines 3D sensors with a camera to recognize low objects, cords and other hazards, plus anti-tangle main and side brushes for comprehensive cleaning.
roborock Qrevo S5V Robot Vacuum and Mop 44% OFF
This was our most versatile pick in testing — great for homes with both hard flooring and carpet. It offers 12,000 pascals of suction, an anti-tangle brush system and LiDAR navigation. It's also good at steering around clutter, and has an extendable FlexiArm mop that can reach beside furniture legs and into corners for a thorough clean. Even more: When the Qrevo S5V detects short-pile carpet, its spinning mops lift up to help keep the surface dry, and the dock automatically cleans the mop pads for a truly hands-off experience.
Segway Navimow i210 AWD Robot Lawn Mower
This wire-free robotic lawn mower uses NRTK positioning and AI-assisted vision to map lawns without requiring you to bury a perimeter cable or install a separate antenna. Our editors loved the ease of setup and thorough mapping capabilities, and notes that it maps even the most oddly shaped terrain and mows little and often to keep your grass at a manicured length. It can handle as many as 20 zones and slopes up to 45%. Its three-wheel, all-wheel-drive system improves traction on uneven terrain, while cutting height is adjustable from 2 to 3.6 inches.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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