While fiddling with his cellphone in 2014, Stanford University PhD student Meng Qiu Wang had the idea to modify it into some sort of robot. Working alongside fellow Stanford PhD student Tony Zhang, the two founded Zero Zero Robotics and began developing this initial concept into a user-friendly, portable drone. The result was the release of the Hover Camera Passport in 2016. The small drone’s propellers were completely enclosed by a frame that folded in half, making the device about the size of a cellphone, small enough to fit in a pocket.

Wang and Zhang envisioned a drone that could serve as a personal photographer—one that could simply follow a person around, documenting whatever they encountered. The drone was equipped with two cameras: one for filming and photography, and the other for its artificial intelligence-based navigation system. “With advanced artificial intelligence technology, fully enclosed propellers, an ultra-light and durable carbon fiber casing, and precise automatic follow modes,” the company website explains, “this drone’s unique design and features led the Hover Camera Passport to win over 30 international awards, including the Red Dot Best Design Award, IF Design, CES, and DIA.”

The company knew it had to differentiate itself from growing competitors like DJI. To cut costs, they decided to move production from the United States to China. Their goal was to create a drone comparable to one of DJI’s models, which typically cost around $1,000, but at a fraction of the price. Within a year, Zero Zero formed a partnership with Apple, making the drone available globally for around $600. Since then, the company has steadily grown, with offices in both China and the United States, and more than 140 industry-related patents. In 2022, Zero Zero launched a new brand website, HoverAir, and released the latest iteration of their “follow me” drone, the HoverAir X1.

As Zero Zero wraps up 2024, Wang described the journey as being “like a 10-year-long Ph.D. project.” Now, with updated versions of the HoverAir X1, including Pro and Pro Max models, Wang and Zhang aim to dominate the personal camera drone market. When folded, the drone is about the size of an Apple iPhone 16. It weighs just 0.42 lbs, can withstand moderate wind, and features an impressive 8K camera. The only drawback is that the drone’s compact size limits the battery to only about 16 minutes of flight time. “The drones are designed to be safe, easy, and fun to fly,” the company website states. “Take it out of your pocket, unfold it, and launch an automated flight mode in seconds with the press of a button. No need for a controller or phone to capture beautiful dynamic shots.”

The website further explains that to program flight modes, users simply press a button on the drone to scroll through the options. “Classic flight modes like Hover, Zoom Out, Bird’s Eye, and Orbit will capture dynamic cinematic moments, while Follow, Side Follow, and Dolly Track are perfect for action shots. More flight modes are on the roadmap and will be rolled out with future updates,” it says. The HoverAir X1 Pro and Pro Max are poised to directly compete with DJI’s Mini series of drones, with one major difference: while a DJI Mini 4 Pro costs around $1,200, the price of the HoverAir series has yet to be announced, but Wang and Zhang are committed to offering it at a fraction of DJI’s price.

Wang and Zhang have experienced a rollercoaster of challenges while developing the HoverAir drone system. Yet, despite every setback, they have found a way to persevere. “I think flying cameras have the potential to become the second home robot, the first being the robotic vacuum, that can enter tens of millions of homes,” Wang said. As Zero Zero Robotics continues to innovate and push the boundaries of personal drone technology, the future looks bright for the HoverAir series. With their commitment to quality, affordability, and cutting-edge features, Wang and Zhang are well on their way to revolutionizing the way we capture and experience the world. Hopefully, the company will find clear skies ahead and allow the HoverAir to reach its full potential.

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