Ring unveils AI-enabled home security drones, robots

Security camera company Ring on Tuesday unveiled flying drones and wheeled robots designed to monitor homes and businesses.The Amazon-owned company’s latest products build on Ring doorbells that that let homeowners see who’s knocking at their door — and seem likely to rankle privacy advocates following a string of scandals.Ring said its new bots use artificial intelligence to learn the contours of homes or businesses and can autonomously explore floor plans to build detailed maps of the spaces they patrol.Ring’s drone will act as a “flying indoor security camera” that can deploy on scheduled flights or respond to specific incidents flagged by Ring’s other security products. Its rolling robot dubbed “Rover Cam” is geared toward patrolling businesses while streaming video to Ring’s mobile app.     Ring’s doorbell-style cameras have boomed in popularity – capturing both intruders and a slew of viral happenings outside residences.The company’s push into robotics marks its latest attempt to turn residences into AI-equipped “smart homes.”  Ring is launching a new division called Ring Robotics to roll out the flying and roving products — an effort that comes after Amazon’s previous attempts to get into automated security flopped. The e-tail and tech giant launched Astro, a home security robot, in 2021, rebranding it as a business product before scrapping the endeavor just seven months later.Ring’s new products – which are indoor-only devices – could face renewed privacy concerns.

The company has faced allegations that its security cameras have helped create unofficial surveillance networks that have been leveraged by police departments or improperly accessed by employees.The drone – which sits in a docking station when idle – can quickly deploy to investigate if a Ring detector or camera picks up on suspicious activity elsewhere in the house, the company said, adding it will reach shelves in late January and list for $2...