Automatic Security Drone for Home? Does it Exist?

Hey everyone, please don’t judge, but I’m totally new to drones, so what I’m about to ask might sound a bit out there.

I was looking at outdoor WiFi IP cameras for perimeter recording around my home, and then it hit me: could a drone do the same thing? I’m picturing something that flies around the house every few hours, self-pilots, follows a set route, flies low around the perimeter, then docks back into a charging station when it’s done. It would record video and send it to a central server, kind of like what IP cameras do.

I know cameras are way more affordable, but I’m just curious if a security patrol drone like this actually exists yet. With how fast tech is moving, I figure a company might have one for a few thousand dollars. I guess the hardest part would be the self-parking, but maybe they could make a small drone with just enough battery to fly a few minutes.

Anyway, just something I thought about. Anyone know if this is a real thing?

Yeah, that concept is out there, but it’s way pricier and a lot less reliable than just setting up some good security cameras.

Here’s one example.

Ring actually announced an indoor drone camera a while back, but it hasn’t been released yet.

Here’s the link: https://ring.com/always-home-cam-flying-camera

Did you just play Gotham Knights? Because what you’re describing sounds just like something from that game!

Last year, I saw a new Ring product that was a mini camera drone. It could fly a set path inside the house and then return to its charging station.

More info here: Ring’s home security drone camera is finally available - The Verge

Yes, this tech exists, but as a consumer, it’s probably out of your price range.

Drones are noisy, they have moving parts that wear out, and cameras are cheap. Probably simpler and more effective to stick with cameras.

Fay said:
Drones are noisy, they have moving parts that wear out, and cameras are cheap. Probably simpler and more effective to stick with cameras.

True, and don’t forget about the cost of storage. Planning ahead can keep costs down.

There are drones that can do this, but they’re mainly for government use. They respond to remote sensors and fly to check things out. FAA regulations don’t allow fully autonomous drones for regular folks, though.

You can’t legally do this in the US, at least not outdoors, unless you get some specialized licenses and permissions.

Case said:
You can’t legally do this in the US, at least not outdoors, unless you get some specialized licenses and permissions.

Right, the line of sight laws would be a problem.

You’d need FAA waivers and a visual observer to keep an eye on the drone at all times in case any manned aircraft are nearby. The closest option would be Ring’s indoor drone that lets you patrol inside via smartphone, but it’s still a work in progress. I’m thinking of getting one for my parents since they live in a two-story home.

In short, no. For drones to be fully autonomous in that way, a pilot still needs to be ready to take control if anything goes wrong. So a completely hands-free security drone isn’t an option yet.

It’s not a new idea, and the tech is there, but it’s just not available for regular people yet. Way too many regulations in the way.

Honestly, a drone wouldn’t do a better job than just setting up cameras around your property. It might just end up annoying your neighbors!

Ring was working on a drone like this, and Amazon also has some rover-style security devices.

Maybe try attaching a solar-powered wireless camera to a drone? Not sure about setting it to patrol on its own, but you could manually control it. Keep in mind, it’d need to stay in WiFi range.

Sunflower Labs makes a system that does what you’re looking for. You set up a geo-fence, and it even blurs footage outside that area for privacy. But yeah, it’s not cheap.

Yes, but these types of drones are designed for government use and cost over $10,000. Also, for civilians, you’d legally have to keep line of sight and be ready to take control, so spending that much for an automated drone that still needs supervision doesn’t make much sense.

You might want to get into building something yourself! If you’re interested in coding, you could look for people who can program something like this—it’s definitely possible.