Amazon has unveiled an indoor security drone under its Ring brand, designed to check areas that fixed cameras can’t cover. The company also announced the Ring Rover Cam, an autonomous robot for businesses that can patrol properties, respond to disturbances and stream video at up to 4K resolution.
Both devices use AI Pilot, a system that maps indoor spaces, recommends patrol points and helps the devices steer around obstacles.
Ring founder and chief inventor Jamie Siminoff said customers had asked for ways to monitor places beyond the reach of stationary cameras, as well as areas where they wouldn’t want a camera installed. He said the company eventually concluded that it needed to rethink what a security device could be, rather than simply add more cameras.
The indoor drone costs $250. Owners can set it to follow scheduled patrol routes or send it out when needed. If a connected Ring camera, sensor or alarm is triggered, it can fly to selected points to investigate. The drone has a 148-degree field of view, can rotate 360 degrees and includes two LED lights for dim conditions.
The $1,000 Ring Rover Cam is aimed at businesses, where it can conduct routine property checks or investigate incidents. Amazon said the device offers a way to get a closer look without the expense and complexity of wiring cameras throughout a building. The company said customer feedback on Amazon Astro helped shape the Rover, including requests for a security device that could move around.
A subscription costing $5 a month or $60 a year is required to use the devices’ full features, an Amazon spokesperson said.
