Shivam Verma
6 min readDec 4, 2018

From the makers of the award winning Hover Camera Passport, Hover is excited to unveil the next generation of autonomous drones, the Hover 2, reinvented with groundbreaking A.I. technology.

Hover 2 introduces an entirely new drone experience giving you gorgeous shots of your life from every angle with unprecedented ease. Innovations like Optical Radar and cutting-edge A.I. enable industry-leading obstacle avoidance and tracking features. Imagine your shot and let Hover 2 do the rest.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US

Ease and usability are at the center of every decision we’ve made, so you can truly immerse yourself in the moment as Hover 2 captures them for you.

AUTOFRAME

Select between 4 preset shots with AutoFrame and Hover 2 will fly into position, frame, and capture the shot for you with the tap of a button. Choose between Waist-Up, Full-body, Backdrop, and Birds-eye.

OMNI-FOLLOW

Omni-Follow keeps you in the frame from any angle, allowing more freedom in movement and creativity. Unlike traditional follow modes that only follow from behind, Hover 2 can follow you from the front, back, side, or switch between all three in the same shot.

Thanks to the Optical Radar, which is always focused on the direction of movement, while the main camera is focused on you, meaning Hover 2 can avoid obstacles even while flying sideways or backwards. Major leaps in tracking algorithms can now lock onto unique characteristics to provide perpetual tracking precision and stability.

Pivot follow keeps the Hover 2 stationary as the camera tracks your movements to keep you in the center of the frame.

TRACKSHOTS

TrackShot flight paths are inspired by classic film techniques for you to capture videos of you and your friends with cinematic flair. Hover 2 keeps you as the focal point as it navigates around you, even when you move.

CINEMATIC THEMES

Hover 2’s in-app editing suite offers a selection of Cinematic Themes; complete with soundtracks and filters. Choose the theme you want and watch as your footage transforms into a short clip that can be instantly shared with your friends or on your favorite social media platform.

OPTICAL RADAR

Hover 2’s proprietary Optical Radar is a swiveling stereo sensor that gives the drone depth perception in every direction.

ADVANCED OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE ALGORITHMS

Combined with SLAM 3D mapping, VIO (Visual Inertial Odometry), and path planning features, the drone can navigate new environments with 360º obstacle avoidance and bypass obstacles while tracking a target in real time. These cutting-edge algorithms are powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon processor.

INTELLIGENT TRACKING

Hover 2’s computer vision system is able to accurately lock onto the target even after significant changes in appearance and shape of the target. By modeling the environment and monitoring the surrounding figures, our algorithm can accurately assess the cause of the obstruction and intelligently adjust its tracking strategy.

The clip above shows our A.I.-trained tracking algorithms demonstrating awareness of distance and orientation of the subject, as well as re-finding the target after occlusion.

WORRY-FREE FLIGHT

The Hover 2 is designed with enclosed propellers and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to protect you and the drone, allowing you to get close-up shots that are impossible on other devices. Onboard GPS allows for greater flight stability, easy tracking, and can bring Hover 2 back to you.

ULTRA PORTABLE

Grab-and-go. Hover 2’s compact, foldable design allows for ultra-portability on all your adventures.

SLEEK & STURDY DESIGN

Hover 2 is available in the sleek, classic black version, that is both lightweight and sturdy. Its design is based on the award-winning design of Hover Camera Passport, recipient of the Red Dot and iF design awards. We believe you shouldn’t have to choose between safety, portability, and style.

Capture breathtaking aerial footage in BlastOff mode, and control the drone from up to 5km (3mi) away when paired with the BlastOff controller. Aerially enhanced propeller guards offer improved aerodynamics expanding your creative possibilities.

To attach the aerial accessories, simply slide off the carbon fiber enclosure and replace it with the propeller guards and landing gear. Hover 2 can be operated with a maximum flight time of up to 23 minutes,

PALM PILOT

The Palm Pilot auto-pairs with the Hover 2 to get you flying in no time. Its ergonomic design lets you control the drone one-handed and gives you shortcuts to your favorite flight and capture features. Perfect for on-the-go activities and frees your mobile device for other uses.

An LCD screen displays first-person POV, letting you see what the drone sees. Smaller than a cell phone, just stash it in your pocket or bag when not in use.

BLASTOFF CONTROLLER

The BlastOff controller is used to control the drone in BlastOff mode. Attach your mobile device for first-person POV display. Using the BlastOff controller, you can control the Hover 2 for up to 5km away.

With 4K video, 12 megapixel photos, 1/2.3in CMOS sensor, and a mechanical gimbal, the Hover 2 lets you capture yourself and the world around you in dazzling detail.

This is an example of the current footage from Hover 2 as a camera quality test only. We’ll share progress reports here as we continue tuning the image quality throughout the development process.

If we reach our stretch goal, all backers will be able to choose between the classic black and translucent variants. We will contact backers upon conclusion of the campaign.

We wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for the thousands of people who make our community vibrant, and those who bought the Hover Camera Passport.

To say a big thank you to everyone who made our Hover Camera dream a reality, we’re offering $100 cash back to any Passport owners who purchase Hover 2 here on Kickstarter.

In order to apply, we need a few details from your Passport purchase:

The serial number or S/N. You can find it on your Passport device above the charging socket with the battery removed.

A screenshot of your receipt or invoice with your order number.

Send these over to support@gethover.com and we’ll send you a $100 refund within a month upon Kickstarter success.

Please note that only Hover 2 purchases made before November 16, 2018, 11:59PM EST are eligible for this offer. Offer can be applied to any backing option.

Co-founded in 2014 by Stanford Ph.D’s, MQ Wang and Tony Zhang, ZeroZero is a forward-thinking robotics company pioneering the future of smart flying robotics that empower people to enhance their lives. Two years ago, ZeroZero introduced its first flagship product, the Hover Camera Passport, a consumer-friendly smart flying camera built for capturing fun and unique perspectives and exciting memories. It received widespread acclaim, won numerous awards, such as Best of the Best from Red Dot Design, IF Design, CES, among others, and entered into a worldwide partnership with Apple retail. Investors include IDG, GSR Ventures, ZhenFund, among others.

Risks and challenges

We highly anticipate to deliver Hover 2 on-time. We are working with top manufacturers in the industry, such as Foxconn, that we’ve also worked with before to deliver the Hover Camera Passport. Despite working with the best in the industry, Hover 2 is packed with technology that is the first of its kind, which is being rigorously tested by our team to minimize risks on the mass production line.

The user experience is designed to enhance and simplify the whole product experience. Depending on feedback, aspects of the user experience flow may be re-worked and fine-tuned. We will be sure to maintain close communication with our community with any questions you may have.

The logistics process is being planned in advance to meet compliance and external certification requirements in certain countries, ensuring smooth delivery in March upon reaching our funding goal.

Our ultimate aim is to deliver exceptional quality product and user experience to our highly valued community.

Special thanks to Kickstarter

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