HoverAir markets drone-like camera as loophole around FCC’s foreign-drone ban

HoverAir introduced the Versa, a $750 camera that can be fitted with detachable propellers to function as a drone, and launched it via Indiegogo after receiving FCC approval on August 9. The company, Zero Zero Robotics, claims the device is fundamentally a camera, with the flight kit treated as an accessory, thereby sidestepping the December 2025 FCC ban on foreign-made drones. The FCC’s original order blocks automatic certification of foreign drones, but only DJI and Autel cameras were explicitly named, allowing HoverAir to certify the camera portion.

However, the FCC also defines cameras as “UAS critical components,” and the agency could overturn the certification within 30 days. HoverAir has issued refunds for its earlier Aqua model that was barred from U.S. sales and is offering the Versa camera alone, though uptake is minimal. The situation highlights a potential regulatory loophole that could influence how future drone-related products are classified and approved.