Ring Drone Cam: Amazon's $250 Indoor Flying Camera Is Loud

That last part is shaky. In a CBS interview with Ring founder Jamie Siminoff, the drone was shown failing to dodge obstacles and hitting walls. Afterwards Ring told CBS it won't offer manual controls at launch, so you can't take over the stick yourself.

How long does the Ring Drone Cam fly?

Not long. Amazon says the battery lasts eight minutes. Then the drone returns to its base station, and charging takes eight minutes for every minute of flight. In a big house, that could leave gaps of more than an hour between patrols.

Is the Ring Drone Cam loud?

Yes, by the look of the CBS video. Small propellers make a higher, shriller sound, similar to other tiny drones such as the DJI Neo. In the footage, Siminoff's dog Biscuit pants on the couch while the drone flies past. That may or may not be stress, but dogs react badly to sudden loud noises, and experienced drone pilots avoid flying near pets.

Why does Ring want a flying camera?

Siminoff says the goal is a home security system that doesn't need a camera in every room. The drone would cover that ground instead.

Privacy is the obvious worry. Ring has a patchy record here, though it recently announced a new encryption program meant to limit how long it, and potentially police, could access your footage. If you're uneasy about Ring watching your front door, letting its camera float through your living room is a bigger ask.