Amazon's Ring launches a robotics division with an indoor security drone and a $1,000 patrol robot for businesses

What happened

Ring, the home security company owned by Amazon, announced a new division called Ring Robotics on Tuesday, Nov. 10, TechCrunch reported. The launch includes two camera devices that move on their own: an indoor drone for homes and a wheeled robot built for businesses.

Both products use cameras and artificial intelligence to patrol set routes and respond to alerts from other Ring devices. Ring described the pair as being "like having a guard on patrol who never clocks out," according to TechCrunch. Both TechCrunch and Ars Technica noted that the launch revives privacy concerns tied to Ring's fixed cameras. More coverage is in our AI and tech section.

The two new devices

Ring Drone Cam

Ring calls the drone a "flying indoor security camera," TechCrunch reported. It is designed to move from room to room, rest in a dock when idle, and fly to the spot where a linked Ring alarm goes off, such as a back door. Owners can schedule patrols or control it through Amazon's Alexa Home Map.

According to Ars Technica, the camera records 2K video with a 148-degree field of view and 360-degree rotation, and two LED lights switch on in low light. The product description lists 8 minutes of flight time on a new, fully charged battery under controlled conditions. Ars also reported that performance may suffer around reflective floors, blank matte walls, and glass or mirrors.

The drone is set to go on sale January 27, 2027, but Ars Technica reported it still needs authorization from the Federal Communications Commission. TechCrunch listed the price as $270. Ars Technica described it as sharing the $250 starting price of the Ring Always Home Cam, an earlier drone sold only by invitation in September 2021.

Ring Rover Cam

The Rover is a wheeled robot that Amazon pitched as an autonomous security robot for businesses. It costs $1,000, is open for preorder, and is scheduled to begin shipping December 16, 2026, according to Ars Technica. It streams in up to 4K and has an adjustable mast that lets its camera see over counters and shelves.

The robot includes a siren, a light tower and two-way audio so a remote owner can speak to someone nearby. Ars Technica reported it works only on a single indoor floor because it cannot climb stairs, and the product description says it can cover up to 5,000 square feet. Amazon also warns it is not compatible with flooring transitions greater than 1.375 inches or with black glossy floors.

How the AI Pilot system works

Ring says both devices run on a proprietary system called AI Pilot, which combines cameras, vision models, sensors and cloud processing to navigate without a human driver. During setup, the system maps the floor plan, either after the owner carries the drone through the space or after the Rover explores on its own, Ars Technica reported. It can then identify rooms and suggest patrol points near side doors, windows or a cash register.

Ring said the Rover was inspired by feedback from customers of Amazon Astro, a robot launched in 2021, TechCrunch reported. Astro was later repositioned as a business security product before Amazon discontinued it, according to TechCrunch.

Privacy questions

Encryption and storage

Ring says video from both devices will be protected by Throw Away the Key Encryption, which Ars Technica reported was introduced in September 2026. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has called that an improvement over Ring's earlier defaults but still short of end-to-end encryption, according to Ars. TechCrunch reported it is unclear whether owners will have an option to store video locally.

Ring's track record

Ars Technica noted that a 2023 Federal Trade Commission investigation charged Ring with allowing employees and contractors to view customers' private videos. The FTC also said weak safeguards let hackers access 55,000 US customer accounts. The EFF has criticized what it calls a "surveillance-first-privacy-last" approach, including features that let law enforcement request footage from users.

Ars Technica reported there is no mention of facial recognition in the new products. Ring's "Familiar Faces" feature for doorbell cameras, offered since December 2025, is already the subject of a class action lawsuit.

What to watch next

• Whether the FCC authorizes the Ring Drone Cam ahead of its planned January 27, 2027 release.
• Ring Rover Cam shipments, scheduled to begin December 16, 2026.
• Whether Ring offers a local video storage option, which TechCrunch said is unclear.
• The pending class action lawsuit over Ring's "Familiar Faces" facial recognition feature.