Ring launches Ring Robotics with Drone Cam and Rover Cam security robots

Mixed · 2Amazon-owned Ring announced a new robotics brand, Ring Robotics, on Tuesday 10 November 2026, with two products: the Ring Drone Cam, an indoor flying camera for homes, and the Ring Rover Cam, a rolling security robot for businesses. 1 2 Left · 1The Rover Cam is available for pre-order at $999.99 and is expected to ship from 16 December 2026, while the Drone Cam is due on 27 January 2027, in the US only. 2 3 Mixed · 2The Verge and Wired put the Drone Cam at $249.99 (about $250), while TechCrunch gives a price of $270. 3 1

Left · 2The Drone Cam weighs 165 grams, shoots 2K video and flies pre-programmed routes in response to Ring sensor triggers such as motion, a door opening or an alarm, or on a schedule. Ring says it flies for five to eight minutes per charge. 3 4 Left · 1The Verge reports that each minute of flight needs about eight minutes of charging, and that it is a quick check-in tool rather than continuous monitoring. Its reviewer saw only a one-minute flight, and Ring did not demo stairs, night spotlights or obstacle avoidance. 3 Left · 3Both robots run on Ring's "AI Pilot", which combines vision models, sensors and cloud processing so they can map a space and navigate autonomously. Wired and The Verge report the drone's intelligence sits in the cloud, so without internet it can only land. 1 3 4

Left · 2Ring founder Jamie Siminoff said he had the idea in 2016 and that the company nearly shipped earlier versions, after the 2020 Always Home Cam. Wired says the team kept adding sensors, which raised compute and battery needs, so Ring moved the intelligence into the cloud. 4 3 Left · 1The Rover Cam is built on hardware from Amazon's Astro home robot. It has a telescoping 4K periscope camera, a siren, a flashing light, two-way talk and about 30 minutes of battery covering up to 5,000 square feet on a single floor. 2 Left · 3Amazon previously sold Astro as a business security robot and then dropped it. The Verge says it was discontinued a year after a 2023 launch, Wired says 10 months after launch, and TechCrunch says seven months into the business pivot. Wired adds that buyers still face the risk Amazon could pull the plug on Ring Robotics. 2 4 1

Left · 3Ring says video from both devices is protected by TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption), which it calls its "strongest default encryption yet". The Verge says keys rotate every five minutes and Ring's copies are deleted after 24 hours. Wired notes Ring briefly holds the key to run cloud AI features, so it is not true end-to-end encryption. 1 3 4 Left · 2Siminoff said the drone is loud by design so nobody can use it to snoop unnoticed. The Verge adds that its camera is shuttered when docked. 4 3 Left · 2Ring says the drone is "in the process of obtaining FCC certification", and Siminoff said it complies with FCC rules and is assembled in the US (Wired says Texas). Wired adds that at under 250 grams it needs no FAA registration. 3 4

Left · 3Privacy concerns around Ring are noted in all three outlets, including its police relationships and surveillance critiques. Thorin Klosowski of the Electronic Frontier Foundation told Wired that companies making such products profit from people feeling less safe at home. TechCrunch says it is unclear whether local video storage will be offered. 4 1 3