The HoverAir Versa, a modular camera-drone, has stopped taking US orders following apparent regulatory issues with the FCC.
Key facts
- •The HoverAir Versa is a modular device that uses snap-on propeller wings to transform from a camera into a drone.
- •The product's Indiegogo campaign stopped accepting US orders for the "Flight Kit" three days after its debut.
- •The FCC previously authorized the device as a camera on August 9th, but not as a drone.
- •The FCC database currently contains no entry for the HoverAir Versa.
- •Zero Zero Robotics, the company behind HoverAir, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
HoverAir has suspended US orders for its Versa modular drone just three days after the product launched on Indiegogo. The company is currently informing backers that it will only ship the camera component to the United States, excluding the "Flight Kit" accessory that enables drone functionality.
Regulatory hurdles and FCC authorization
The HoverAir Versa initially received FCC approval on August 9th, but that authorization was granted for a camera rather than a drone. While the manufacturer, Zero Zero Robotics, is not on the FCC’s Covered List for cameras, the agency classifies cameras as critical drone components, for which all companies are subject to restrictions. The FCC database no longer lists the device, suggesting the previous authorization may have been revoked.
Impact on US backers
US residents can no longer select the "Flight Kit" option on the Indiegogo campaign page, though the option remains visible to users in other regions. Some backers who previously ordered the device have reported that the company is unable to ship to their US addresses. HoverAir has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the situation or potential refund timelines.
Timeline
- August 9thThe HoverAir Versa received FCC authorization as a camera.
- DecemberThe brand failed to obtain certification for the HoverAir Aqua.
- Three days after Indiegogo debutHoverAir stopped taking US orders for the drone component.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Verge.
