Bill
S 5310
The bill aims to strengthen U.S. robotics by advancing standards, data-sharing, workforce upskilling, and NASA-driven commercialization to boost domestic adoption and innovation.
Purpose and overall aim
- Introduces the Robotics Supply Chain Improvement Act to support and accelerate the development and adoption of robotics in the United States. The bill emphasizes strengthening domestic robotics capabilities, advancing AI-enabled robotics, and facilitating workforce development related to robotics industries.
Key definitions
- Robotics (Section 2): Broadly defines robotics to include:
- Programmable, multifunctional devices for moving materials/tools
- Programmed actuated mechanisms with autonomous capabilities
- Automatically controlled manipulators programmable in at least 3 axes
- Machines that sense, process information, and act upon their environment
- Unmanned ground vehicle systems operated remotely or via sensor data
- Exclusions (Section 2): Does not cover unmanned aircraft systems, passenger vehicles, or toys.
Major provisions
1) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) activities (Section 3)
- Within 90 days of enactment, NIST Director must:
- Identify barriers and solutions to expand data collection and sharing to aid AI model development and robotics hardware.
- Direct the Office of Advanced Manufacturing to promote robotics use by industry where possible.
- Coordinate with the robotics industry to identify standards needs, focusing on:
- Emerging robotics use cases (e.g., humanoid robots, swarming)
- AI standards in robotics
- training and apprenticeship programs to upskill workers
- Coordinate to support robotics solutions in mining/critical mineral processing, food processing, home and elder care, and other areas as appropriate.
- Coordinate with the Education and Labor Secretaries on curricula for in-demand skills to grow the robotics workforce.
2) Adoption reporting on robotics (Section 4)
- Requires annual reports for five years (starting not later than 1 year after enactment), through the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, detailing:
- Adoption rates of robotics across industries and geographic locations
- Industry-specific adoption and investment in robotics
- Barriers to adoption
- Impacts on workforce development and skill needs
- Policy recommendations for Congress
3) NASA IP commercialization related to robotics (Section 5)
- NASA to prioritize licensing of NASA inventions and technologies related to robotics to the private sector to bolster the domestic robotics base.
- Within 180 days, NASA must report to Senate and House committees on efforts to prioritize commercialization of NASA robotics innovations.
Targeted audience and affected parties
- U.S. robotics industry, manufacturers, software developers, and AI researchers seeking standards and data-sharing frameworks.
- Workers and trainees through upskilling, apprenticeships, and curricula initiatives.
- NASA-sponsored robotics innovations and potential private sector licensees.
- Government agencies (NIST, Department of Commerce, Education, Labor, NASA) coordinating on standards, workforce development, and commercialization.
Timelines and procedural notes
- Enactment date: August 6, 2026 (as introduced).
- Key deadlines:
- NIST: within 90 days to identify barriers/solutions and begin coordination activities.
- NASA: report within 180 days on commercialization efforts.
- Annual five-year reporting requirement starting one year after enactment.
Impact considerations
- Aims to reduce barriers to robotics adoption, align standards, and increase domestic production and innovation.
- Seeks stronger collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions to cultivate a robotics workforce.
- Encourages private-sector commercialization of NASA robotics technologies to spur domestic capacity.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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