mazon has taken the wraps off its Ring home security drone more than two years after it was first announced.
The $250 Always Home Cam, as it is known, can fly around to show you different parts of your home through its camera while you are out. That way, you can theoretically keep tabs on your abode with a single device instead of a multitude of surveillance cameras.
Until now Amazon has stopped short of showing the drone to the public, despite promising to ship it to customers on an invitation-only basis in 2021. It finally relented and brought the mini drone to the CES tech show in Las Vegas, home to the most futuristic (and barmiest) gadgets on the planet. But, even then, it was a modest debut for a gizmo that could appeal to Ring security doorbell owners and drone enthusiasts alike – as it essentially combines those two products.
The Always Home cam was reportedly shown flying in an empty room at the conference last week. Amazon didn’t show the device taking off or landing, though it normally sits in a charging dock when not in use with its camera blocked. The mini drone can essentially patrol one floor in your home, ideally the ground level, after you train it by walking around the space in a series of flightpaths, according to Engadget. You can also set quick routes for it to follow by inputting multiple paths and waypoints, allowing it to head straight to the front door or kitchen, for instance.
The drone uses lidar sensors, which emit laser beams that bounce off surrounding objects, to create a map of your home. It is the same tech that is used by robot vacuums and electric vehicles. It is also reportedly a loud device, so it is more likely to scare off intruders rather than secretly film them.
Just don’t expect to get your hands on it any time soon. The device probably won’t be widely available until 2024 at the earliest, according to The Verge.
So, why the delay? It is reportedly due to the cost of cramming all that tech into a tiny device and making it affordable, combined with the intricacies of making it fit for use indoors, where windows, furniture and pets can get in the way.
Aside from concerns of it being swatted out of the air by a frustrated feline, the drone will also raise alarm bells for privacy purists. Owners of Ring’s popular video doorbell can already share their footage with others online. Police forces can also request recordings from you. If you refuse, they can issue a warrant or in some cases bypass you to submit a request directly to the doorbell manufacturer.
