Ring Drone Cam won't feature manual flight controls at launch
The Ring Drone Cam will rely entirely on AI Pilot to navigate preset flight paths autonomously, with no manual control option available when it launches in January.
- The Ring Drone Cam is scheduled to launch in January and will exclusively support autonomous flight powered by AI Pilot.
- Users will not be able to manually fly the device through the mobile app.
- During a demo on CBS Mornings, an early prototype crashed twice while being piloted manually.
- Ring stated that autonomous waypoint patrols provide the best overall customer experience.
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Autonomous flight only, no manual steering
According to The Verge, the Ring Drone Cam relies entirely on its AI Pilot system. The device navigates pre-programmed flight paths and avoids obstacles on its own. When the product ships to customers in January, manual control will not be an option.
Ring spokesperson Sam McGee said the company tested a variety of features throughout development. According to McGee, autonomous flight to patrol waypoints via AI Pilot delivers the greatest utility and the best experience for customers.
The reason might trace back to a CBS demo
A video segment aired on CBS Mornings showed Ring founder Jamie Siminoff letting reporter Jo Ling Kent pilot an early prototype via the mobile app. Siminoff noted the company could enable manual controls. The drone subsequently crashed twice while under manual operation.
Following the first crash, Ring reportedly told CBS News that the collision avoidance system had malfunctioned. The company declined to provide footage captured by the drone right before the impact. The second crash was captured by CBS cameras as the drone slammed into a wall after failing to respond to control inputs.
Siminoff explained that the drone lost its internet connection, which is also required for autonomous flight. He stated that if connectivity drops, the drone is designed to stop and land, though it failed to do so in that instance.
During a private demonstration for The Verge, Ring declined to show the app and said the device operates strictly on pre-programmed flight paths. While manual controls existed at one point in development, they will not reach end users. Ring did not respond to questions regarding whether this decision was made following the CBS demo.
Dropping manual flight is a prudent move for an indoor drone. Even so, the connectivity incident points to an important issue to monitor at launch: whether the drone can reliably stop and land safely whenever it loses its internet connection. Prospective buyers should wait for hands-on reviews before picking one up.
Source: The Verge
Reviewed by: Hero Association
