Ring Robotics’ second robot is designed for businesses, not consumers. The Ring Rover Cam might look familiar—it shares many of the same hardware guts as Amazon’s Astro, the short-lived home robot that didn’t do much. Amazon had even pivoted it as a $2,350 security robot for businesses before eventually bricking them 10 months after launch.
Siminoff says the robot was great, but the software needed polishing, and people largely wanted to use Astro for security—that’s why the Rover Cam ditches the cute face seen on the previous bot. It has the same AI Pilot as the Drone Cam, which helps it navigate through spaces and avoid obstacles. A telescoping 4K camera pops up to monitor its surroundings, and the Rover beams a light circle to the ceiling so you can always glance up to see where the short bot is on the factory floor.
It responds to sensor alerts, can automatically check an area, features two-way talk, and has a built-in siren. It covers up to 5,000 square feet and returns to its charging dock after its patrol ends. (It can do about 30 minutes). It’s significantly cheaper than Astro was, but buyers still face the lingering risk that Amazon could pull the plug if Ring Robotics doesn’t pan out.