HOVERAir Aqua

The HoverAir AQUA is an ultra-compact 249g flying drone/camera, designed to fit comfortably in a backpack and fall within the sub-250g EU regulations. The frame measures approximately 7.95 × 8.11 × 2.46 inches (202 × 206 × 62 mm), with a flat, rounded design that makes it easy to grip and hand-launch.

It is designed to operate in real-world environments: the operating temperature ranges from -5 °C to 40 °C, so you can use it on cool mountain days or in full sun at the beach. In the air, it can reach a maximum horizontal speed of approximately 34 mph (55 km/h), with ascent and descent speeds of up to 6.7 mph (10.8 km/h), and wind resistance up to Level 7 (up to 33 knots), which is more than enough to remain stable in many typical water sports conditions.

The drone can take off up to 5,500 m altitude and reach a maximum flight height of 120 m, in line with standard limitations for recreational use. Flight autonomy is up to 23 minutes per battery in ideal conditions, a very competitive figure for a fully waterproof and buoyant product.

Navigation, Positioning, and Water Resistance

To maintain position and track the subject accurately, HoverAir AQUA integrates a multi-constellation GNSS positioning system (GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, GLONASS) combined with RTK when paired with the Lighthouse controller, and VIO (Visual-Inertial Odometry) for visual positioning. Complementing the sensor suite is a downward-facing millimeter-wave radar, which helps the drone fly low over water and manage waves accurately.

IP67 certification guarantees complete dust and water impermeability: AQUA can be temporarily submerged in fresh or saltwater, eliminating the fear of "falling into the sea" that hinders many traditional drone users. Furthermore, the drone is positively buoyant: not only does it not sink, but it can take off and land directly on the water's surface in a controlled manner, transforming the water element from a threat into a "flight platform."

Imaging System: Lens, Sensor, and Stabilization

The HoverAir AQUA camera is built around a 1/1.28" CMOS sensor paired with a 24mm equivalent lens with an 85° field of view, f/2.55 aperture, and fixed focus (FF) from 0.75m to infinity. The lens is hydrophobic, featuring self-heating anti-fog technology that promotes water runoff and reduces drops and condensation on the front glass, crucial when flying through splashes, sprays, and partial submersions.

Image stabilization combines a single-axis mechanical gimbal with proprietary SmoothCapture 3.0 EIS (electronic stabilization) and horizon leveling, to achieve smooth footage even with sudden movements or rough seas. This combination ensures stable shots without the complexity of a traditional 3-axis gimbal, maintaining the body's compactness and robustness.

Video, Photo, and Creative Modes

For video, AQUA offers a very wide range of resolutions and frame rates, both horizontal and vertical, designed for creators and social media:

Horizontal

• 4K (3840 × 2160) at 100/60/50/30/25/24 fps
• 1080p (1920 × 1080) at 100/60/50/30/25/24 fps

Vertical

• 4K (2160 × 3840) at 30/25/24 fps
• 2.7K (1520 × 2704) at 60/50/30/25/24 fps
• 1080p (1080 × 1920) at 60/50/30/25/24 fps

For slow motion, 4K at 100 fps and 1080p at 100 fps are available, ideal for emphasizing jumps, carving, and technical maneuvers. Recording supports various video profiles: Standard, 10-bit H-Log, and Vertical mode, with H.264/H.265 encoding, bitrate up to 160 Mbps, and files in MP4 format, offering room for color grading and post-production.

Photos have a maximum resolution of 4000 × 3000 (12 MP), are saved in JPEG, and use an ISO range of 100–128,000 with shutter speeds from 1/50 to 1/4000, all managed automatically to simplify the user experience.

Intelligent Flight Modes Dedicated to Water

One of HoverAir AQUA's strengths is its library of intelligent modes, designed to automate filming:

• Specific modes for water sports: Paddleboard Mode, Kayak Mode, Foiling Mode.
• Cinema modes: Follow, Dolly Track, Angle Track, Orbit Follow, Orbit, Hover, Zoom Out, Bird’s Eye, Spiral, 360° Spin.
• Manual Control mode for those who want to directly control the drone's movement.

These modes combine subject tracking, predefined trajectories, and automatic height and distance management, allowing the user to focus on their sports activity while the drone handles the shots. It's an ideal solution for those who are not experienced pilots but still want dynamic and professional content.

Battery, Endurance, and Charging

The HoverAir AQUA uses a 2013 mAh 10.74 V (21.62 Wh) Li-ion battery weighing 89 g, optimized to withstand charging temperatures between 0 °C and 55 °C. In flight, it offers up to 23 minutes of battery life per battery under ideal conditions, while charging is designed to reduce downtime between sessions.

With the Charging Hub and a 65 W PD power adapter, one battery reaches 100% in about 52 minutes; two batteries in parallel require about 85 minutes. If you charge the battery directly inside the drone, the time is about 55 minutes. The battery is optimized for water contact (including accessories like waterproof bags for transport), aligning with the product's "water-native" philosophy.

Internal Storage and Data Management

To ensure reliability in an environment where microSDs could be a weak point, HoverAir AQUA integrates 128 GB of internal UFS 2.2 memory, with no support for external SD cards. This reduces the risk of errors due to faulty or non-waterproof cards and simplifies the workflow: connect the drone via USB-C and transfer files directly.

Lighthouse: the Wearable Brain for RTK and Basic Control

The Lighthouse accessory is a small device weighing approximately 104 g (98 × 50 × 33 mm) that integrates GNSS RTK technology to improve drone positioning accuracy and enable advanced functions like VirtualTether (auto-recall of the drone based on distance).

Radio System, Accessories, and App