Ring Drone Cam will not include manual controls after CBS demo crash

Ring has confirmed that its Drone Cam, a flying indoor security camera scheduled for release in January, will not include manual flight controls. The device will rely entirely on an AI-powered autopilot system to navigate pre-programmed routes around the home.

A public demonstration on CBS Mornings showed Ring founder Jamie Siminoff allowing reporter Jo Ling Kent to fly an early version of the drone manually using a mobile app. The drone crashed twice during the segment. Ring told CBS that the first crash was caused by a malfunction in the drone's collision avoidance system, and it declined to share footage recorded before the crash. The second crash was caught on camera, showing the drone colliding with a wall after failing to respond to manual inputs. Siminoff said the drone lost internet connectivity, which it also needs for autonomous flight, and acknowledged that it did not stop and land as intended.

Ring spokesperson Sam McGee stated that while many features were explored during development, autonomous flight via the AI Pilot provides the best customer experience. Ring did not answer whether the CBS demo directly led to the exclusion of manual controls. The company also declined to show the Drone Cam app to The Verge during a separate demonstration.