Pune's Humro gets conditional US approval, only Indian firm among first 13 robotics companies

A subsidiary of Pune-based Affordable Robotic and Automation Limited (ARAPL) has won a major global recognition. ARAPL is India's first listed robotics company. Its subsidiary ARAPL RaaS Private Limited, known as Humro, has received conditional approval from the US Department of War (DoW).

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the approval on October 30, 2026. With this, Humro is among the first 13 robotics companies to receive it. It is the only Indian company on the list.

The approval covers two of the company's products. The first is the Maia2000 automatic pallet truck, with its V1, V3 and V4 models. The second is the Atlas AC2000 automatic forklift, with its V1, V2 and V4 models. The products have been given a conditional exemption from the restrictions imposed under the FCC's Covered List.

The company estimates the automatic material handling market in the US at about $150 billion. The approval opens the way for Humro to expand its business in the US. It will also be able to take part in possible government procurement processes, though it must meet the Buy American Act and other regulatory conditions for this.

Robinson Philipose, co-founder and chief executive officer of Humro, called the approval proof of the company's technical capability. The company plans to begin production in the US in phases over the next two years. It is also looking for local partners for this.

According to Melind Padole, founder of the ARAPL Group, the company is building next-generation robots. These rely on Vision-Language-Action models and Reinforcement Learning technology. With this technology, the robots will be able to understand instructions, take decisions by assessing situations and learn from experience.

Automation is growing in warehousing, industrial production and logistics. In this setting, ARAPL's achievement is considered significant for the Indian robotics industry.