Ring is putting cameras in motion: the Drone Cam, a flying indoor camera, ships in the U.S. on January 27, 2027 for $249.99, and the Rover Cam, a patrolling security robot for businesses, ships on December 16, 2026 for $999.99.
Ring, the Amazon-owned security brand, calls the pair the start of “Ring Robotics”. Both run on a system it names AI Pilot, and both work with the Ring cameras, doorbells, sensors and alarms people already own.
What is the Ring Drone Cam?
The Drone Cam is a small flying camera that stays docked until it is needed, then flies a set route through the house. According to The Verge, it weighs 165 grams and is built for indoor use only.
Ring lists these specs on its own page:
- 2K video with a 148° field of view and 360° rotation
- Two built-in LED lights that switch on in low light
- Custom flight routes, schedules and on-demand flights (schedules need a compatible Ring Protect plan)
- Automatic flights to saved patrol points when a Ring camera, sensor or alarm is triggered
- Control from the new Alexa Home Map
The Verge reports that Ring claims 5 to 8 minutes of flight per charge, and that each minute in the air takes 8 minutes of charging. A five minute flight therefore needs about 40 minutes on the dock.
How does Ring’s AI Pilot work?
AI Pilot builds a floor plan from the device’s cameras, vision models and sensors, plus cloud processing. For the Drone Cam you carry it through your space once. The Rover Cam explores by itself.
The system then identifies rooms and suggests patrol points, such as a side door, a window or a long corridor. You can add your own. During a flight or patrol it plans the shortest route and steers around furniture and other obstacles in real time.
What is the Ring Rover Cam?
The Rover Cam is a wheeled security robot aimed at shops, offices and other businesses. Ring says it grew out of feedback from Amazon Astro owners, who valued roving security most.
- Video recording and streaming in up to 4K while it moves or patrols
- A 360° scan when it reaches a room or saved patrol point
- An adjustable periscope mast that sees over counters and shelving
- A built-in siren and light tower, plus two-way audio
- Person motion alerts even when docked
Scheduled patrols and saved video need a compatible Ring Protect plan, according to Ring.
How much does it cost, and when can you buy it?
Ring gives these U.S. details:
| Device | Price | U.S. shipping date |
|---|---|---|
| Ring Rover Cam | $999.99 | December 16, 2026 |
| Ring Drone Cam | $249.99 | January 27, 2027 |
Rover Cam preorders are open. For the Drone Cam, Ring is taking email sign ups. Ring’s page says the Drone Cam has not yet been authorized under Federal Communications Commission rules and cannot be sold or leased until it is. No prices or dates for other countries are listed.
What about privacy?
Ring says the Drone Cam powers down in its dock with the camera off and records only when a flight starts. It is also loud in the air, so people nearby will notice it. On the Rover Cam, Sleep Mode retracts the periscope and mutes the microphone, and LED indicators show when either device records.
Video from both is protected by Throw Away the Key encryption. The Verge says it rotates keys every five minutes and deletes Ring’s copies after 24 hours, which limits Amazon’s access while still allowing cloud features such as smart alerts.
Who should buy it, and who should wait?
Renters and apartment dwellers. The Drone Cam is the cheaper way to check several rooms without mounting a camera in each. The short flight time means it suits quick checks, not long watching.
Small businesses. The Rover Cam replaces wiring for every corner of a floor, but at $999.99 it costs far more than a fixed camera. Check whether the Ring Protect plan you need adds a monthly cost.
Anyone outside the U.S. Wait for Ring to name your market, since only U.S. details are published.
Early adopters. The Verge notes the Drone Cam arrives almost six years after the earlier Always Home Cam was announced, which never shipped. Waiting for first reviews is reasonable.
What is still unknown?
Ring has not published the Drone Cam’s battery size or the monthly price of the required Ring Protect plan in the sources we read. Real world flight noise and how well AI Pilot copes with cluttered homes are also untested by independent reviewers.
Next step: read Ring’s launch page to compare the two devices, and sign up for Drone Cam updates or preorder the Rover Cam from Ring’s own site.
