Ring launches AI-powered indoor Drone Cam and Rover security robot
Ring introduced a $250 indoor Drone Cam that operates via cloud-based AI and a $1,000 Rover Cam for business security, both under the new Ring Robotics brand.
Ring announced two new security devices on Tuesday: an indoor Drone Cam priced at $250 and a Rover Cam aimed at businesses for $1,000. The products will be released under the Ring Robotics brand, with the Rover Cam shipping on December 16 and the Drone Cam on January 27.
The Drone Cam is a 165-gram indoor drone that lifts from a charging dock, flies autonomously in response to sensor alerts, and streams video to a phone. It relies on a cloud-based AI Pilot to plan routes, avoid obstacles and return to its dock, allowing the hardware to remain lightweight. Flight time is estimated at five to eight minutes per charge, and the device requires a Wi-Fi connection and Alexa Home Map data for navigation. Users can set custom patrol schedules but cannot manually control the drone.
Ring says the drone complies with U.S. regulations and does not need FAA registration because it stays indoors and stays under the 250-gram weight limit. The company highlighted its TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption) system, which encrypts video in transit and rotates keys frequently, with Ring retaining the key only briefly to run cloud AI functions before deleting it. Two-factor authentication is required for all Ring accounts.
A second device, the Rover Cam, repurposes hardware from Amazon’s former Astro robot for commercial use. It features a telescoping 4K camera, a ceiling-mounted light, two-way talk, a built-in siren and can patrol up to 5,000 square feet for about 30 minutes before returning to its dock.
Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff explained that the Drone Cam addresses situations where a fixed camera is insufficient, noting that “there are times when you do want to be able to see everywhere around the home, but you don’t necessarily want a [fixed] camera.”
Privacy advocates expressed caution. Thorin Klosowski of the Electronic Frontier Foundation said consumers should consider how such devices affect the sense of safety for occupants and visitors, adding that surveillance products can contribute to a feeling of reduced privacy at home.