HoverAir is marketing its new $750 Versa as a steadycam with optional propellers, testing whether it can circumvent US regulations on foreign-made drones.

Zero Zero Robotics has launched the HoverAir Versa, a device that functions as a camera but can be converted into a drone using snap-on propellers. The company claims the product is a DJI Pocket-style steadycam rather than a drone, potentially bypassing a December 2025 US government ban on foreign-made drones. While an FCC agent approved the device on August 9, the agency retains the authority to reverse this decision if it determines the product violates foreign drone restrictions.

Regulatory loophole strategy

HoverAir argues that because the Versa is primarily a camera, it does not fall under the same restrictions as drones. The company’s global marketing director, Anita Facundo, stated that the flight kit is an accessory that extends the device's capabilities, asserting that the product configuration complies with regulatory requirements. Because the propellers connect to the camera via copper contacts and lack wireless radios, HoverAir did not submit them for FCC certification.

Potential for FCC reversal

The FCC’s ban covers both drones and "UAS critical components," a category that includes cameras with wireless radios. Although a private Telecommunications Certification Body approved the Versa, the FCC has the power to review and reverse such certifications. The agency has a 30-day window to reconsider its decision, which remains open for the Versa.