Intel has filed a petition with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking an exemption from a ban on foreign-made advanced robotics. The company argues that automated guided vehicles (AGVs) used in its semiconductor manufacturing facilities are critical to national security and lack viable domestic alternatives.
The FCC added advanced robotics, drones, and Wi-Fi routers manufactured outside the US to its restricted list in July. While the ban does not affect existing equipment, it prohibits hardware, software, and firmware updates for such devices. Intel stated that replacing these robots would take years and could immediately disrupt domestic chip production.
Intel emphasized that routine maintenance and lifecycle extension for these AGVs pose no cybersecurity risks. The company is seeking clarity on whether performing necessary updates would violate current regulations. Major suppliers of these robots include Japan's Murata Machinery and Daifuku, with manufacturers from South Korea and Taiwan also active in the market.
Other major chipmakers, including TSMC, Micron, GlobalFoundries, Samsung, and Texas Instruments, may face similar challenges and require future exemptions. The FCC has increasingly used such import restrictions to encourage domestic technology investment, shifting from targeting specific companies to broader product categories.
