As one of the Big Four, the most dominant tech based US companies, Amazon has a little bit of everything to offer its customers. When Jeff Bezos founded the company in Bellvue, Washington on July 5, 1994, he was focused on selling online books and music. It wasn’t long before Amazon branched out into sales of electronics, apparel, toys, food, entertainment, pretty much anything consumers were looking for. By 2018, with the introduction of Amazon Prime’s rapid delivery service, the company had grown to one of the most successful companies in the world, with Jeff Bezos as the wealthiest person in the world.

In 2013, Jamie Smirnoff appeared on the American reality business show Shark Tank with his home security invention Doorbot which he valued at $7 million. He declined an investment offer from Shark Kevin O’Leary, rebranded as Ring with help from none other than Shaquille O’Neal and other outside investors, and by 2018 caught the attention of Jeff Bezos. In February of 2018, Amazon purchased Ring for over $1 billion. Today, Ring security products are one of Amazon’s best-selling products as property owners and renters worldwide have begun using them to keep an eye on their homes and businesses.

Through Amazon, Ring offers a range of Smart Home security options like doorbell cameras, security cameras and systems, and even lighting systems. On Thursday, Septemeber 24, 2020 Amazon held an invite only media conference to announce upcoming tech releases for the 2020-2021 year. Among products announced were the next generation of Echo devices and a slew of new Ring products. Some of these Ring products include a device for your mailbox, a car security system, and surprisingly an indoor drone.

The Ring Always Home Cam will retail for $250 and be available starting next year. It is a drone that can fly around the inside of your home with a live feed camera, but no microphone, making a loud hum so it is obvious when the drone is in use. As stated by Amazon, “This autonomous indoor security camera works with Ring Alarm and flies to pre-selected locations so you can easily check on your home.” Now, rather than setting up a network of cameras through your home’s interior, a single drone can be used to let you see what is going on when you aren’t there to see in person.

The small drone is shaped like a square with a rectangular stick dropping down from its center. The stick houses the drone’s camera, computer, and battery. The stick docks down inside of the cubed charging base, preventing the camera to record when not in use. Once purchased, the owner connects to the Ring security app and walks the drone through the spaces to be surveilled. According to Ring President, Leila Rouhi, “The path is entirely determined by the customer. You actually walk the device around your home and train it on that path and can set different waypoints for the camera to fly to.” The drone has a 5 minute flight time and will automatically return to the base to recharge. It also has object avoidance capabilities so if the drone encounters an unknown obstacle along the path determined by the owner, it will return to the docking base and send a warning signal through the app.

While Amazon has officially begun trails for their 30 minute or less drone delivery service in rural, low population settings, it seems that the fastest way to get in on an Amazon drone service will be with the Ring Always Home Cam drone. And while there has been some controversy as to privacy concerns with other Ring products, Amazon is assuring the public that this will not be an issue with the Ring drone. With the camera’s inability to record unless the drone is in motion, the lack of a microphone, and an end-to-end video encryption system, the Ring drone will be able to give you a sense of security while you are away from your home without fear of your private life being available to the service providers.

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