Robots in society, business and culture: July 2026

RoboHub News — by Emmet Cole This new monthly series from IEEE RAS showcases a selection of robotics stories from society, business, research, and culture, as we track the field’s ongoing journey from specialized industrial machines to an increasingly visible social phenomenon. Technological isolationism or prudence?

On July 28, the United States’ Federal Communications Commission blocked new foreign-made “advanced robotic devices” from receiving the equipment authorization needed for sale in the United States, citing supply-chain vulnerabilities and cybersecurity risks. The block applies to networked humanoids, quadrupeds, other qualifying mobile robots weighing more than 4.4 lb. In a parallel action, the FCC also restricted foreign-produced connected power inverters. Existing authorized models are unaffected for now, and exemptions or conditional approvals may be available. Reaction is predictably mixed. Georg Stieler, a global robotics advisor and managing director for Asia at STM, told The Robot Report: “In the near term, the measure could slow U.S. physical AI innovation by cutting startups and researchers off from future low-cost Chinese platforms before comparable Western alternatives exist. It also opens opportunities for U.S. suppliers and allied manufacturers able to localize production in the U.S. or obtain conditional approval. Yet excluding foreign products is not the same as building a competitive industrial base.” Meanwhile, John Moolenaar, a Michigan Republican who chairs the House ​Select Committee on China, told Reuters that the FCC move “protects our country and strengthens our nation’s robotics industry.” On July 30, Reuters reported that China’s Commerce Ministry threatened to “resolutely retaliate” if the United States maintains the restrictions and urged the United States to immediately withdraw the ban. Expect this story to run and run over the coming weeks, with many peaks and valleys for various stakeholders. Speaking of peaks and valleys, Unitree Robotics’ newly launched Super Athlete AS2-W seems to handle them quite well… Ghostly smudges, puffins & growing ivy Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a drone that almost disappears while in plain view. Dubbed ‘Phantom Twist’, the drone spins up to 25 times per second, which is too fast for the human eye to see clearly. Instead, the drone becomes a “ghostly smudge” that blends into its environment.