The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Intel a one-year exemption from a ban on certain foreign-made advanced robotic equipment. According to Sina Finance, the FCC said the waiver is intended to prevent potential disruption to Intel customers’ access to domestic semiconductor manufacturing services.

Intel said in a petition submitted last week that the equipment is essential to its U.S. semiconductor manufacturing operations. Without the exemption, the company would be unable to make software, firmware, or hardware changes to its automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which regulators could classify as robots.

Intel told the FCC that no validated domestic alternatives currently meet its operational needs. Replacing the AGVs would take years and could disrupt its manufacturing operations. The vehicles transport materials within Intel’s semiconductor facilities and have been in use for more than 20 years.