Amazon has officially announced the launch of the Ring Drone Cam and the Ring Rover Cam, marking the debut of a new autonomous mobile security product category called Ring Robotics. The Ring Drone Cam will retail for $249.99 and is scheduled to ship on January 27, 2027, following a development process that Ring founder Jamie Siminoff noted has taken about a decade since the initial drone concept started in 2016.
The Ring Drone Cam is a tiny quadcopter weighing 165 grams, or 0.36 pounds. It is equipped with a 2K camera and two front-facing LEDs, alongside a 1080p camera and an illumination LED on its underside. These integrated lights serve dual purposes, assisting with low-light visibility and acting as an intruder deterrent by mimicking the sweeping motion of a security guard holding a flashlight. The device can fly on preconfigured patrol schedules, respond to alerts from motion or leak sensors, or be manually operated by the user.
Key takeaways
- The Ring Drone Cam costs $249.99 and ships on January 27, 2027.
- The Ring Rover Cam costs $999.99 and releases on December 16.
- Both devices utilize an AI Pilot system powered by cloud processing.
- Privacy protections include automatic camera shutdowns and TAKE encryption.
How the Drone Cam and AI Pilot operate
Navigation for the quadcopter is simplified by the Alexa Home Map, a feature that supplies a 3D map view of a house. Users can tap a specific destination on the map, and the drone maps its own course. The device offers approximately eight to 10 minutes of air time depending on altitude, and returns to its dock automatically when battery or Wi-Fi connections require it. Eight minutes on the dock delivers enough power for one minute of flight time.
Previous iterations faced delays due to hardware and safety hurdles, such as the need for larger shrouds that hindered flight performance, and costs that would have pushed retail prices past $5,000. To reduce both weight and price, the new Drone Cam leverages cloud processing via an "AI Pilot" system. This system maps the space, suggests patrol points, and handles obstacle avoidance over a Wi-Fi connection, eliminating the need for heavy local onboard processors.
The enterprise-focused Ring Rover Cam
Alongside the drone, Amazon introduced the Ring Rover Cam with a price tag of $999.99, launching software on December 16. Inspired by customer feedback regarding the security features of the discontinued Amazon Astro robot, the Rover Cam targets enterprise scenarios like warehouse monitoring and patrolling by small to medium businesses. The device includes a tablet face, a periscope camera that extends up to 4 feet, a 4K camera, a built-in siren, and a light tower that flashes red during alarms.
Privacy features are integrated across both Ring Robotics products. The Drone Cam powers down and turns off its camera while docked, activating only when a flight is triggered. Videos from both the Drone Cam and the Rover Cam are protected by TAKE, described as Ring's strongest default encryption yet. Both machines are deliberately designed to be seen and heard, utilizing propeller noise, bright lights, and sirens to actively deter intruders rather than just monitor spaces.
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