US chip champion Intel was so confused by the US government ban on foreign-made robots that it requested and received a waiver “out of an abundance of caution.” The tech company wanted to make sure that it could continue using certain robotic vehicles in its US chip fabs.
The uncertainty surrounding the Federal Communications Commission ban on certain foreign-made robots was revealed in the agency’s decision to grant Intel’s waiver request. On October 22, the FCC published its order allowing Intel to continue using the foreign-made robots in US semiconductor manufacturing facilities for a period of one year.
The robots in question are automated guided vehicles operating on “tracks or predefined paths” while often requiring operator oversight, according to Intel’s website. They help to move materials and items around within warehouses and factory floors.
Such robotic vehicles are typically manufactured by Japanese companies like 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 appendix” that accompanied its request.
The FCC’s ban mainly covers new models of mobile robots, like humanoid robots and robot vacuums, and still allows for the import of robots previously approved for sale in the United States. But the agency rules seem to restrict major modifications to “previously authorized devices.”
Intel’s waiver request stated that it was “unclear” whether its robotic vehicles even qualify as robots covered by the FCC ban but said it sought relief just in case. The tech 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.