Ring launches indoor drone camera and security robot for homes and businesses

Amazon's Ring unveiled two new security devices on Tuesday: the Ring Drone Cam, an indoor drone priced at $250, and the Ring Rover Cam, a $1,000 robot adapted from the Astro platform for business use. The drone is designed to fly between rooms, following a preset route when a door, window or motion sensor triggers an alarm, and can also be launched manually. It can operate for up to eight minutes before returning to its charging dock and includes LED lights that flash while recording.

Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff said the drone could serve as a deterrent to intruders, noting that visible spotlights and a flying device could discourage a burglar. He added that the drone complies with Federal Aviation Administration rules that require drones to stay within the operator's line of sight, and Ring has built safeguards to prevent illegal flights.

The Ring Rover Cam repurposes the Astro home robot for commercial environments such as offices and warehouses. It features a two-wheeled base, an extendable periscope camera, a built-in siren, two-way audio and a light tower to help users locate the robot. Siminoff described the robot as a "purpose-built security robot" that allows users to monitor multiple areas with a single device.

Ring emphasized that privacy is the default setting for both products, with LEDs indicating when recording is active. The Drone Cam is slated to ship in the United States on Jan. 27, pending FCC approval, while the Rover Cam will begin shipping on Dec. 16.