Amazon’s Ring brand is expanding its home‑security lineup with an indoor drone that can fly around a house or small business on a pre‑programmed patrol. Priced at $250, the Ring Drone is slated to ship in late January and will be sold alongside the company’s existing doorbell and camera products.
How the Ring Drone works
According to Ring, the drone is “built from the ground up with AI at its core,” allowing it to map a home, navigate autonomously, and respond when a Ring sensor, camera, or alarm is triggered. Users can set custom patrol points and schedule flights, or they can summon the drone on demand. When a trigger occurs, the drone automatically flies to the designated points to investigate.
The device is designed for indoor use only; Ring notes that it should not be operated outdoors in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. While docked and powered off, the drone’s camera is disabled, and a light indicates when recording is active. The propellers are intentionally loud, which Ring says serves as a deterrent to potential intruders.
Additional hardware and subscription
Ring also introduced a $999 rolling Rover Cam aimed at businesses. The rover features a periscoping camera, live‑stream video while moving, and the ability to activate a light tower, sirens, or two‑way audio. Both the drone and rover require a Ring Protect subscription, costing $5 per month or $60 per year.
Privacy and security concerns
Ring has faced criticism over privacy issues in the past. The company highlighted a recent Super Bowl ad that showed how Ring devices could help locate lost dogs, prompting some observers to question the use of AI to scan neighborhood video feeds. After public pushback, Ring cancelled a planned partnership with Flock Safety, a firm whose license‑plate‑reader network has been linked to misuse scandals involving law‑enforcement officers.
Ring says video from the new devices will be protected by its “Throw Away the Key” encryption, which it describes as its strongest default encryption yet and inspired by end‑to‑end encryption. However, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has warned that Ring’s system does not provide the same level of privacy protection as true end‑to‑end encryption.
Company outlook
Ring founder and inventor Jamie Siminoff called the new robotics “the beginning of a future where proactive, autonomous protection is something every home and every business can have.” The launch reflects Ring’s broader strategy to offer more automated, AI‑driven security solutions for consumers and small enterprises.
Consumers interested in the Ring Drone should watch for the late‑January release and consider the ongoing cost of a Ring Protect subscription when evaluating the overall value of the system.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
