Quadruped Robot Service in North America (Robot Dogs)

Short answer: Quadruped robots (robot dogs) sell to two kinds of customers in North America: industrial inspection (power, oil and gas, chemicals, mining, manufacturing) and university and lab research. Since the FCC's Public Notice DA 26-786 of July 28, 2026, quadrupeds are explicitly inside the Covered List entry for foreign-produced advanced robotic devices: new foreign-produced models cannot get FCC equipment authorization, while models authorized before July 28 can still be imported, sold and used. As of October 30, 2026 (the latest FCC list, checked November 4), the FCC had announced 13 robot Conditional Approvals and none is a quadruped. Canada runs its own ISED radio certification and provincial electrical approval, and we found no similar Canadian measure. A workable plan: keep selling authorized models in the US; take new models to Canada first for certification, pilots and reference customers; and keep spares, standby units and field engineers in Vancouver to support authorized fleets in Western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest.

Supporting a quadruped is not like supporting a wheeled robot. It works outdoors in rain, mud and cold and it falls over; its battery pack is often above 160 Wh, so nobody can carry a spare on a plane; legs, actuators and feet wear out; and inspection data and remote updates get close scrutiny from the customer's IT/OT security team. This guide covers those points in the order you need to settle them before launch.

Who we are: KeepRobots is a robot field service company in Vancouver. We do not make or sell robots, and we do not give legal, certification or customs advice. This page summarises public sources from the FCC, ISED, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, IATA and manufacturers; regulatory points were checked on 2026-11-01. For a specific product, the US or Canadian lawyer and the certification body have the final word. For the general repair process for legged robots (remote triage, module swaps, RMA), see humanoid and quadruped robot repair in North America; this page does not repeat it.

1. Who buys quadrupeds in North America: inspection vs research

The same robot dog sold to a utility and to a university lab needs two different service plans. Decide which customer comes first, then design support around them.

	Industrial inspection customers	Research and teaching customers
Typical use	Routine rounds at substations, oil, gas and chemical sites, mines, plants and warehouses: gauge reading, thermal checks, acoustic anomalies, gas detection	Locomotion, perception and embodied-AI research; teaching and competitions
How the robot is used	Same route every day; stability and availability matter most	Software changes, added payloads, experiments; SDK, interfaces and modifiability matter most
Site entry	Site safety orientation, work permits, EHS risk assessment; some areas need hazardous-location equipment	Easier, but procurement, IT and privacy reviews apply
Biggest fear	Missed inspection rounds; data leaving the site; a fall in a hazardous area	An experiment stalled by a repair; unclear warranty after software changes
Service focus	Response time, standby units, seasonal maintenance, technicians with site safety training	Fast part swaps, calibration, version control; clear rules on modifications and warranty

Ask industrial customers about site entry early. Many plants require visiting technicians to complete site safety orientation and to work escorted. Whether a robot may enter a classified hazardous (explosive-atmosphere) area depends on whether that model carries the matching hazardous-location certification. Only the manufacturer and the certification body can answer that; a field service partner cannot.

One thing to check early if you sell into oil, gas or chemical sites: an EU ATEX certificate is generally not enough on its own. In the US, OSHA requires equipment in hazardous (classified) locations to be approved for that location, which means listing by an OSHA-recognized NRTL and marking for the class, group and temperature (29 CFR 1910.307, 1910.399). In Canada, CSA Group has told Natural Resources Canada that ATEX certifications are not typically compatible with Canadian Electrical Code requirements and that hazardous-location equipment must be certified. For example, ANYbotics' ANYmal X lists ATEX Zones 1 and 2 certification, with IECEx "available with first production"; its product page does not claim a North American hazardous-location certification. Check with the certifier and the site's authority having jurisdiction before quoting a hazardous-area job.

2. FCC status: three situations for a quadruped model

Under DA 26-786, an "advanced robotic device" moves on the ground, operates autonomously or remotely, weighs more than 4.4 lb together with its dock or charger, and has environmental sensors, a network connection of at least 200 kbps and software controlling navigation or perception. The definition names quadrupeds explicitly. "Foreign-produced" is about where the robot is made, not who owns the company, so a quadruped made in Canada or Europe is also in scope. Fixed industrial arms are excluded. Our full reading of the rule is in the FCC Covered List and robots: Canada vs the US; here is what it means for a quadruped model:

Your model	United States	Canada
FCC-authorized before July 28, 2026	Import, sale and use are not affected. The FCC's robot FAQ says repairing an authorized device, and replacing parts with identical parts, is not prohibited. Software or firmware updates that reduce harm to US users can go through Class I/II permissive changes under the waiver in DA 26-789, which runs to at least January 1, 2029. Ask your test lab before any hardware change such as adding or swapping a radio module.	Sold as usual with ISED certification and an accepted Canadian electrical mark
New model, no FCC authorization	Cannot get equipment authorization. The current exception is a Conditional Approval from the US Department of War (DoW), which requires a plan to manufacture in the US. As of October 30, 2026 (the latest FCC list, checked November 4): 13 robot Conditional Approvals, none for a quadruped.	FCC rules have no legal effect in Canada; certify through ISED and an electrical certification body
Has a Conditional Approval	Equipment authorization under the conditions of the approval	Same as above

Two traps specific to quadrupeds:

Payloads. Industrial customers often want an LTE/5G modem, a private-network radio, a pan-tilt camera or a gas sensor on the robot's back. The added radio needs its own FCC authorization in the US and ISED certification in Canada, and a hardware change to an authorized robot can raise authorization questions. Run the customer's payload list past your test lab before signing.
Don't take a Canada-only new model into the US. A new model piloting in Canada without FCC authorization cannot be sold in the US. The FCC's robot FAQ says such models may not be imported or marketed, and operation is generally not allowed, so a US trade show or a customer demo is effectively off the table. Ask a US lawyer before you travel (see on-site robot demos in North America).

3. What Canada is useful for: certification, pilots, references, a service base

First the limits: the Canadian market is roughly an order of magnitude smaller than the US (numbers in US or Canada first), so Canada alone cannot carry a North American business. Its value is being the place where a new model can launch legally in North America, and a nearby service base for authorized US fleets:

Canadian certification. The robot and its dock need a Canadian-accepted electrical mark (CSA, cUL, cETL and similar). Wi-Fi or cellular radios need ISED certification (the "IC:" number on the label), and foreign applicants must name a Canadian representative (RSP-100, section 4.1). Small numbers of uncertified units can be considered for field evaluation. Details: robot certification in Canada.
Pilots with Canadian industrial and research customers. BC has ports, energy, mining and forestry, all outdoor-heavy, plus several research universities. Pilot reports, availability figures and failure data become the material for US sales.
Spares and standby units. Keep feet, batteries, joint modules and one or two standby robots in Vancouver. Units that will stay in North America as demo or standby robots should be imported normally from day one, not under an ATA Carnet (a Canadian carnet expires after one year and cannot be extended).
Supporting authorized fleets in the US Pacific Northwest. Vancouver to Seattle is about 230 km, usually 2.5 to 3 hours by car plus the border queue, in the same time zone. Engineers crossing to do after-sales work need the right entry basis under US immigration rules; see robot field service in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest and take legal advice.

4. Outdoors: IP ratings, BC rain and cold

Quadrupeds sell on going where wheeled robots can't, so the customer's first technical question is usually: can it run in the rain, and in winter? Published figures for a few models (manufacturer websites, checked 2026-11-01):

Model (manufacturer site)	Ingress protection	Operating temperature	Battery
Boston Dynamics Spot	IP54	-20°C to 55°C	564 Wh
ANYbotics ANYmal	IP67	Not listed for the robot on the product page	Not listed (90 min run time)
ANYbotics ANYmal X (explosion-protected)	IP65 robot, IP67 payload	-10°C to 50°C (preliminary specifications)	Not listed (more than 3 h)
Unitree B2	IP67	-20°C to 55°C	2,250 Wh (45 Ah)
DEEP Robotics X30	IP67	-20°C to 55°C	Not listed

Under IEC 60529, the first IP digit is protection against solids and dust, the second against water: IP54 is dust-protected (not dust-tight) and splash-resistant; IP67 is dust-tight and survives temporary immersion. North American industrial customers compare these numbers directly with their site conditions. What we tell makers:

The IP rating is a new-unit, covers-closed test result. Charging, debug and payload ports that have been opened, aged seals and falls all reduce real protection. Put seal and port-cover checks in the maintenance plan.
Coastal BC is wet from autumn to spring, and ports and coastal plants are damp year round; mines in the BC interior and north are far colder than Vancouver. Write separate rain and cold-weather operating rules for different sites, even for the same model.
Charging in the cold. Many lithium battery BMS designs limit or block charging at low temperatures. In winter, keep the dock indoors in a heated space, or warm the battery as the maker specifies.
Heat. Summer sun, substations and equipment rooms push joints and batteries into thermal derating. Schedule rounds away from the hottest hours and clean the cooling paths regularly.

5. Batteries: shipping, storage and replacement

Quadruped packs are usually larger than those of wheeled service robots; Boston Dynamics lists 564 Wh for Spot. Under IATA rules, lithium-ion batteries above 160 Wh are not allowed in passenger baggage at all and must travel as Class 9 dangerous goods cargo. For after-sales that means:

An engineer cannot fly to site with a spare battery. Spare packs have to be in North America already.
Paperwork. Every battery model needs a UN 38.3 test summary. Batteries shipped alone go as UN3480; batteries in or packed with equipment as UN3481. Since January 1, 2026, lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment (IATA Packing Instruction 966) must ship at no more than 30% state of charge; for batteries installed in the robot (PI 967), 30% is recommended but not mandatory. Shipping demo units and their batteries is covered in on-site robot demos in North America.
Damaged batteries are the hard case. Dropped, swollen or water-damaged packs face extra restrictions and many forwarders refuse them. Decide in the contract whether a damaged pack is quarantined and recycled locally under local rules, or shipped back to the factory for analysis, and who finds a carrier that will take it.
Storage. Store spare packs at the state of charge and temperature the maker specifies; check and top up on a schedule; never leave them full or flat for months.
How many. Our suggestion for pilots: at least one spare pack per robot. For long outdoor rounds, work out the rotation from daily run time and charge time.

6. Spares and repair: what can be fixed on site and what cannot

Legs fail most: overheating joints, motor or encoder faults, worn-through feet. How much can be fixed on site depends on how far the maker opens up repair, and whether field engineers get the calibration and diagnostic tools.

Repair level	Typical work	Who does it	Spares advice
Level 1: swap on site	Feet and foot pads, covers and guards, battery, sensor windows, antennas and external cables, dock contact cleaning	Local field engineer after one training session	Several sets of feet, sized to site wear; one set of covers; one spare battery per robot
Level 2: module swap + calibration	Whole leg or joint module (motor, gearbox, encoder, driver as one unit); camera, LiDAR or IMU replacement; zeroing, calibration and a test route to the maker's procedure	Local field engineer with maker training, service manual and calibration tools	Stock by joint type, not by position: the same joint module often fits several positions
Level 3: factory or maker remote	Gearbox teardown, motor rewinding, component-level board repair, BMS internal faults, firmware flashing and pairing that need maker tools	Maker's factory or authorized repair centre	Return failed modules under RMA; keep the robot running on North American spares meanwhile

North American customers care about downtime, not where the part gets fixed. So: do levels 1 and 2 on site in North America and get the robot back on its route; send level 3 modules home at normal speed. If level 2 is not opened to field staff (for example, joint calibration only by the maker over remote access), the contract must state the remote-support window in local North American time. For the general spares method, see robot spare parts and consignment stock in Canada; for the cost of sending modules back, see shipping a robot back to China for repair.

7. Remote updates and data: answer the security review before it is asked

An inspection quadruped captures a lot of images, thermal data, point clouds and audio every day, and it takes remote updates from the maker. The customer's IT/OT security team, or a university privacy office, will ask where data is stored, who can log in remotely and how updates are controlled. Weak answers can stall a pilot in approvals. The full question list is in robot IT security requirements; the quadruped-specific points:

US (FCC): software or firmware updates that reduce harm to users of an authorized device can use Class I/II permissive changes under DA 26-789, through at least January 1, 2029. For other kinds of updates, ask your test lab whether authorization is affected.
Canada, federal (PIPEDA): the Privacy Commissioner's guidance on cross-border processing says PIPEDA does not prohibit sending personal information abroad for processing, but the organization remains accountable, must use contracts to ensure comparable protection, and should tell individuals their information may be processed abroad and accessed by foreign courts and authorities. Inspection video that captures workers can be personal information.
BC public bodies such as public universities: the 2021 FIPPA amendments (Bill 22) removed the general requirement to store personal information in Canada, but projects involving personal information still need a privacy impact assessment, and sensitive personal information stored abroad needs further assessment (per UBC's privacy office). Selling to a BC university, start the PIA early.

What to prepare: a one-page data flow (what is collected, on the robot or in the cloud, which cloud region, whether the maker can access it remotely, how long it is kept); offline operation with local data storage; over-the-air updates only in a window the customer confirms, with rollback; and the option for a local field engineer to export logs and install customer-approved firmware on site, so remote logins are needed less often.

8. Pilot support and what it costs (example)

A first quadruped deal in North America is usually a pilot: one or two robots for a few months. The split we suggest: the factory team does remote diagnosis, root cause and software; the local field engineer does deployment, on-site swaps, calibration and seasonal maintenance; and a factory engineer joins the first deployment and trains the local engineer on the spot.

An example at KeepRobots' current rates (core Greater Vancouver, CAD, before tax and parts; hours are assumptions, real jobs are quoted per project): two quadrupeds on a three-month inspection pilot at one site in Greater Vancouver.

Item	Assumption	Cost (CAD)
Deployment and commissioning	1 visit, 8 hours (unboxing checks, mapping, inspection routes, dock install, operator training)	$100 + 8 × $150 = $1,300
Monthly inspection maintenance	1 visit a month, 3 hours each, 3 visits	3 × ($100 + 3 × $150) = $1,650
Repairs	2 visits, 2 hours each (e.g. feet, or a joint module swap with calibration); repair approved, so the diagnostic fee is credited	2 × ($100 + 2 × $150) = $800
Total		$3,750

If the customer decides not to repair after a diagnostic visit, that visit costs the CAD 200 diagnostic fee plus the CAD 100 call-out fee, CAD 300 in total. Outside core Greater Vancouver (for example a mine in the BC interior) and in the US, travel is quoted per project; US jobs are USD 200 per robot, per visit for diagnosis and USD 150/h for on-site labour. During a pilot this costs far less than a full-time engineer in North America; see what a robotic field service engineer costs in North America.

For the service terms a pilot contract needs (response time, how availability is measured, standby units, who pays for a fall), see robot service SLAs in North America. Quadrupeds need two more lines: who sets the rules for rain, cold and hazardous areas, and which failures fall outside warranty after a research customer changes software or adds payloads.

9. Pre-launch checklist

FCC status, model by model: authorized before July 28, 2026 or not; for new models, ask a US lawyer about the US route.
Canadian certification: electrical mark for robot and dock, ISED certification, Canadian representative.
Environment: IP rating, operating temperature, cold-charging rules and rain rules, written into the English user manual.
Batteries: UN 38.3 test summary for each pack model; spare packs shipped to North America in advance; a damaged-battery procedure.
Repair levels: what is opened to field staff, how calibration and diagnostic tools are licensed; joint modules stocked by type.
Data and updates: one-page data flow; offline mode; customer-controlled update windows.
Local service partner: who goes to site, how fast, where spares and standby units live, written into the offer and the contract.

What KeepRobots can do

KeepRobots is a robot field service company in Vancouver: deployment and commissioning, hourly on-site repair, preventive maintenance, pre-sales demos and storage for spares and standby units, based in BC and Greater Vancouver and travelling to the rest of Canada and the US. We do not make or sell robots, and we are not a certification body, a customs broker or a law firm. For a quadruped we can deploy and map routes, swap feet, batteries and modules, run calibration to your procedure, do seasonal checks, store spare packs at the specified charge and keep a log you can see. Our engineers read Chinese technical documents and can work with factory teams across the time difference.

Current rates, before tax: diagnostic fee CAD 200 per robot, per visit in Canada or USD 200 in the US (credited if you approve the repair); call-out fee CAD 100 per visit in core Greater Vancouver; on-site labour CAD 150/h in Canada or USD 150/h in the US; travel outside the core area and for US jobs is quoted per project. See quadruped robot field service, Vancouver as a North American service base and North America field service for robot makers, or email partners@keeprobots.com with the model, customer type (inspection or research), number of units and customer city.

FAQ

Can quadruped robots still be sold in the US?

It depends on the model. Models with FCC authorization from before July 28, 2026 can still be imported, sold and used. New foreign-produced models cannot get FCC equipment authorization; the current exception is a Conditional Approval from the US Department of War, which requires a plan to manufacture in the US. As of October 30, 2026 (the latest FCC list, checked November 4), none of the 13 robot Conditional Approvals announced by the FCC is for a quadruped. Ask a US lawyer about a specific product.

Does the FCC rule apply in Canada? What certification does a quadruped need there?

FCC rules have no legal effect in Canada, and as of 2026-11-01 we found no similar Canadian measure. To sell in Canada, the robot and dock need a Canadian-accepted electrical mark (CSA, cUL, cETL and similar), radios need ISED certification, and foreign applicants must name a Canadian representative. The certification body and your lawyer decide.

Can a quadruped work outdoors in Vancouver's rainy season and in winter?

That depends on the model's rating and the maker's rules. Manufacturers list Spot as IP54 and ANYmal, Unitree B2 and DEEP Robotics X30 as IP67, with -20°C to 55°C operating ranges for Spot, B2 and X30. An IP rating is a test result for a new unit with covers closed; aged seals and falls reduce it. Many battery management systems limit charging in the cold, so keep the dock indoors in winter.

How do quadruped batteries get to North America?

Each battery model needs a UN 38.3 test summary and ships as Class 9 dangerous goods (UN3480 alone, UN3481 in or with equipment). Batteries above 160 Wh are not allowed in passenger baggage, so spare packs must be shipped ahead as cargo. Damaged batteries face more restrictions; ask your forwarder first.

How far can a quadruped be repaired on site in North America?

Feet, covers, batteries and sensor windows can be swapped on site. Whole legs or joint modules, and camera, LiDAR or IMU replacements with calibration, can also be done on site once the maker has trained the engineer and released the calibration tools. Gearbox teardowns, motor rewinding, component-level board repair and BMS internal faults usually go back to the factory.

What does field support cost during a quadruped pilot?

At KeepRobots' current rates, for two robots on a three-month pilot in core Greater Vancouver (hours assumed): deployment, one 8-hour visit, CAD 1,300; monthly 3-hour maintenance, CAD 1,650; two 2-hour repairs, CAD 800; about CAD 3,750 in total before tax and parts. Diagnostic fee CAD 200 per robot, per visit, credited if the repair is approved; call-out CAD 100 per visit; labour CAD 150/h.

Sources (checked 2026-11-01)

FCC Public Notice DA 26-786 (July 28, 2026), advanced robotic devices added to the Covered List: docs.fcc.gov
FCC DA 26-1181 (October 30, 2026), Appendix B: Conditional Approvals list updated October 30, 2026: docs.fcc.gov
FCC Covered List: fcc.gov
FCC Covered List FAQs: robots and inverters (updated October 27, 2026; repairs and identical parts, software updates): fcc.gov
FCC DA 26-789 (July 28, 2026), waiver for software and firmware changes: docs.fcc.gov
ISED RSP-100, Issue 12, section 4.1 (Canadian representative): ised-isde.canada.ca
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.307, hazardous (classified) locations: ecfr.gov
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.399, definitions (acceptable, approved, NRTL): ecfr.gov
CSA Group letter to Natural Resources Canada on ATEX and the Canadian Electrical Code (2018): rncan.gc.ca
Boston Dynamics, Spot (IP54, -20°C to 55°C, 564 Wh): bostondynamics.com
ANYbotics, ANYmal (IP67): anybotics.com
ANYbotics, ANYmal X (ATEX Zones 1 and 2, IP65 robot, -10°C to 50°C, preliminary): anybotics.com
Unitree, B2 (IP67, -20°C to 55°C, 2,250 Wh): unitree.com
DEEP Robotics, X30 (IP67, -20°C to 55°C): deeprobotics.cn
IATA Lithium Battery Guidance Document, 2026 (PI 965/966/967, 30% state of charge): iata.org
IATA, Passengers travelling with lithium batteries (2026): iata.org
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, guidelines for processing personal data across borders: priv.gc.ca
UBC Privacy Matters, changes to FIPPA data residency (Bill 22): privacymatters.ubc.ca

Chinese version: 四足机器人出海北美：FCC 新规下，加拿大能做什么

This page summarises public sources for orientation only, as of 2026-11-01. It is not legal, certification or customs advice; for a specific product, US or Canadian counsel and the certification body decide. Product figures are as published by each manufacturer. Repair levels, spares advice and the pilot hours are KeepRobots' suggestions and assumptions. Rates are KeepRobots' current published rates, before tax, and may change.

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