RoboStore, previously the primary North American distributor for Chinese robotics company Unitree, has shifted its business strategy to develop and manufacture commercial robots in the United States following federal restrictions on imported robotics. To oversee its new manufacturing and systems integration operations, the company launched a new entity named Robo Inc. The strategic pivot follows a July decision by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ban imports of new models of foreign-made robots, including robot vacuums as well as Unitree's humanoid and quadruped models. The FCC justified the action on national security and cybersecurity grounds, alongside federal efforts to encourage domestic robotics production. The regulatory shift gained momentum earlier this year through legislative proposals in the US Congress. Lawmakers introduced the American Security Robotics Act in the Senate in March, followed by the GUARD Act in the House of Representatives in June, accelerating RoboStore's timeline to establish its own domestic production capacity. Before the federal ban, RoboStore distributed more than 1,500 Chinese-made robots to major technology companies and academic institutions, including Amazon, Cisco, Nvidia, OpenAI, Harvard University, and MIT, who used the machines for research and development. RoboStore founder and CEO Teddy Haggerty noted that academic customers are increasingly demanding domestic hardware. Haggerty stated that universities are seeking US-compliant products, prompting the team to apply its experience from being a major educational robotics distributor toward direct manufacturing. Under Robo Inc., the company plans to open a 66,000-square-foot commercial robotics facility by the first fiscal quarter of 2027. Engineers are currently using 3D printing to build prototypes that are undergoing field testing with selected customers. Instead of general-purpose humanoids, Robo Inc. is focusing on task-specific machines. Its initial pipeline includes a quadruped robot for security applications, a humanoid platform for education and research, and a wheeled robot with a humanoid torso equipped with cameras and sensors to measure patient vital signs such as temperature and blood oxygen levels. Haggerty expressed skepticism toward universal humanoid robots, arguing that specialized robotic arms from companies like Standard Bots and Universal Robots are better suited for most commercial goals. He noted that Robo Inc. intends to help businesses integrate practical robots tailored to distinct industrial needs. To address manufacturing scaling challenges, Robo Inc. is preparing to raise its first major round of outside capital after operating for years as a bootstrapped enterprise. Haggerty reported strong interest from existing corporate and academic partners during initial fundraising outreach. The US ban on importing affordable Chinese commercial robots creates a clear divide in global hardware access, meaning tech innovators and university researchers in Somalia and across the wider region will continue relying on accessible Chinese robotics for their projects, while American institutions pivot toward costly, compliance-driven domestic models.