Ring’s upcoming security drone, scheduled for a January launch, will not feature manual flight controls. The device is designed to operate exclusively through an AI Pilot system that follows pre-programmed routes and navigates around obstacles autonomously.
The decision follows a demonstration with CBS News where an early version of the drone, piloted manually via a mobile app, crashed twice. During the second incident, the drone collided with a wall after failing to respond to manual inputs.
Ring founder Jamie Siminoff stated that the crash occurred because the drone lost internet connectivity. According to the company, the device is programmed to stop and land if the connection drops, but this safety feature failed during the test.
A company spokesperson, Sam McGee, confirmed that while manual controls were tested during development, the final product will rely solely on autonomous flight. Ring stated that this approach provides the best experience for customers.
