HoverAir’s Versa, a transforming camera device that converts into a drone via snap-on propeller wings, has stopped accepting orders in the United States shortly after launching on Indiegogo. The company informed backers that it would only ship the camera component to US customers, withholding the Flight Kit accessory that enables the drone functionality, citing unspecified logistics updates.
The product appears to have encountered regulatory obstacles from the Federal Communications Commission. Although HoverAir obtained FCC authorization for the device on August 9th, that approval was limited to the camera classification. The company’s parent, Chinese firm Zero Zero Robotics, submitted the device to the FCC as a camera rather than a drone, leveraging the fact that Zero Zero is not on the FCC’s covered list for cameras. However, all manufacturers are automatically included on the FCC’s covered list for drones and drone components, with cameras explicitly designated as such components.
Indications suggest the regulatory approval may have been rescinded. The FCC database no longer contains a listing for the HoverAir Versa, and the product’s Indiegogo page no longer displays the Flight Kit as an option for US-based browsers, though it remains visible to international users. Some backers have reported that the platform now prevents shipping to US addresses, even for the camera-only configuration.
The situation mirrors a previous setback for HoverAir, when its waterproof Aqua model failed to obtain necessary certification. In that instance, the company delayed informing backers of the regulatory issue for an extended period. HoverAir has not yet commented on the current situation, and the FCC declined to provide public explanation of its position regarding the Versa device.
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