Amazon's Ring unveils Drone Cam and Rover Cam security robots under new Ring Robotics brand

Amazon-owned Ring announced a new robotics division, Ring Robotics, on Tuesday and introduced two autonomous security products: the Ring Drone Cam, a flying indoor camera for homes, and the Ring Rover Cam, a wheeled patrol robot for businesses.

The Drone Cam will cost $249.99 and ship on January 27, 2027, according to Engadget and DroneXL. The Rover Cam is open for preorder on Amazon at $999.99, with shipping due December 16, The Verge reported. Ring founder Jamie Siminoff presented the products at a media event in New York, DroneXL said.

The Ring Rover Cam in a dark office and the Ring Drone Cam flying through a living room. Photo: DroneXL

How the drone works

The Drone Cam weighs 165 grams and carries a 2K camera, according to Engadget. Ars Technica reported a 148-degree field of view and two LED lights that switch on in low light. It can fly on a schedule, head to a spot where another Ring sensor or alarm has triggered, or be sent to a point chosen on Amazon's Alexa Home Map.

Two images of the Ring Drone Cam, one in a room in daylight and one in a hallway at night. Photo: Engadget

Both devices are driven by software Ring calls AI Pilot, which, according to the company's press release as cited by Engadget, charts a space, proposes patrol stops and steers around obstacles. Ring says the system relies on vision models, sensors and cloud processing. Siminoff said shifting the processing to the cloud let Ring reduce the drone's weight and price, Engadget reported. Engadget quoted him as saying that doing it all inside the device would probably push the retail price past $5,000.

Flight time is limited. Amazon's product description cites 8 minutes on a new, fully charged battery under controlled conditions, Ars Technica reported, while Engadget gave a range of eight to 10 minutes. Eight minutes of docked charging yields one minute of flight, Engadget said. Ars Technica noted the drone may perform worse around reflective surfaces such as polished marble or mirrors.

The Rover Cam and regulatory status

The Rover Cam borrows heavily from Amazon's Astro home robot, The Verge reported. It has a periscope camera with 4K resolution, a siren, a flashing light tower that projects a blue ring onto the ceiling, and two-way audio. Battery life is about 30 minutes, covering roughly 5,000 square feet on a single floor, according to The Verge.

Three images of the Ring Rover Cam in various environments. Photo: Engadget

Amazon has tried the business-robot market before. The Verge said Astro for Business launched in 2023 and was discontinued a year later, and Engadget said the business version had cost $2,350.

The Drone Cam has not yet been authorized under Federal Communications Commission rules and cannot be sold until it is, DroneXL and Ars Technica reported. Ring told The Verge its certification is in process, and Siminoff told the outlet the drone complies with FCC regulations and is assembled in the US. DroneXL noted that Amazon's announcement and the other outlets' reports do not say where its components are made.

Privacy questions

Ring says video from both devices is protected by its Throw Away the Key Encryption, which it calls its strongest default encryption yet. Ars Technica reported that the Electronic Frontier Foundation has called that an improvement but well short of end-to-end encryption. Ring also says the devices are meant to be seen and heard, and the drone's camera is off while docked.

Ars Technica noted that a 2023 Federal Trade Commission investigation accused Ring of letting employees and contractors watch customers' private recordings. It added that the descriptions of the new products make no mention of facial recognition.