Ring unveils a home security drone and a robot for businesses

Amazon-owned Ring announced the launch of its Ring Robotics division and unveiled two devices for automated security: the Ring Drone Cam, a flying camera for the home, and the Ring Rover Cam, a mobile robot for businesses. The drone will record video in 2K resolution and go on sale on January 27 next year for $270. The Rover Cam records in 4K and will go on sale on December 16 for $1,000. Both devices use the Pilot AI system, which helps them navigate indoor spaces autonomously.

Ring unveils a home security drone and a business robot

Patrolling at home and work

The Ring Drone Cam is designed to monitor a home while its owners are away. It can move from room to room, inspect the space, and send alerts when it detects a problem. The drone is connected to other Ring devices: for example, if the alarm at the back door goes off, it is supposed to fly over and check what happened. When not in use, the drone stays in its dock.

The camera records in 2K resolution. LED lights let it monitor a room at night and record video in low light. The drone can be controlled through Amazon Alexa Home Map, and users can also set a patrol schedule — for example, while they are out for the evening or on vacation.

The Ring Rover Cam is designed for businesses. It can be set to patrol designated routes at specific times. The robot streams continuous video in 4K resolution, accessible through the Ring mobile app. If the system detects a person, users can set it to start recording automatically.

The robot has a periscope camera that can be raised to inspect areas behind obstacles. Two-way audio lets users speak remotely with people near the device — for example, a store employee or a suspected intruder.

Image Credits: Amazon

Source: techcrunch.com

How the robots navigate

Both models run on the Pilot AI system. Ring says it combines specialized computer vision models, sensors, and cloud computing so the devices can perceive their surroundings, make decisions, and move autonomously. The company also says the drone and Rover Cam learn the layout of a home or office by exploring it.

Ring describes the robots as security guards that can continue patrolling after a business closes and check sensor alerts, including at night. In that case, video is sent to the owner's phone.

Amazon's previous attempt and privacy concerns

In 2021, Amazon introduced the Astro home robot. It was initially positioned as a home assistant, and later as a device for securing small businesses. Amazon stopped developing the product seven months after introducing it as a security robot. Ring says feedback from Astro owners inspired it to create the new device.

Ring cameras have raised privacy concerns before: critics have argued that they create unofficial surveillance networks that police departments can access. The new robots can also collect video inside homes and businesses.

Ring says the devices are designed to meet privacy and security requirements. Recordings are protected by TAKE — Throw Away the Key — encryption, which the company calls its strongest default encryption setting. It is not yet clear whether local video storage will be available: Ring cameras typically save recordings to the cloud.

The Rover Cam will go on sale on December 16 for $1,000. The Ring Drone Cam will be available on January 27 next year for $270.

Dataist's take: Ring is moving video surveillance from stationary cameras to devices that move around indoor spaces on their own. But the company has yet to say whether recordings can be stored locally, and Astro's history shows that launching a robot does not guarantee its continued development.