PRODUCT REVIEW: Satori Aerial Co-Pilot Mavic

Hands-free flying for compact DJI aircraft

- PATRICK SHERMAN

AT A GLANCE

Model: Co-Pilot for Mavic

Manufacturer: Satori Aerial (satori-aerial.com)

Type: DJI Mavic controller tripod adapter

Price: $39.95

Satori Aerial's first entry into the drone market was aimed at DJI Phantom, Inspire, and Matrice pilots: Co-Pilot is a plate that attaches to the back of the controller with a threaded socket, allowing it to be mounted on a standard photographic tripod. Its specific purpose is to relieve pilots of the need to hold the controller in their hands, reducing fatigue and allowing for more precise inputs.

The Co-Pilot was developed by Gary Clayman, who suffered an injury in a cycling accident, making it diffcult for him to support the weight of a controller for an extended period of time. He thought other pilots might enjoy the same benefits, even if it wasn't a medical necessity. It worked well, as I determined for myself when I reviewed it in the January 2019 issue of RotorDrone Pro.

There was only one problem with the original Co-Pilot: it wasn't compatible with the nonstop parade of compact drones being released by DJI: the Mavic Pro, the Mavic 2 Pro, the Mavic 2 Zoom, and the Mavic 2 Enterprise.

To make the same benefits available to pilots of these smaller platforms, Clayman powered up his 3D printer and set about designing a new Co-Pilot specifically for the compact, folding controller that arrives as standard equipment along with these aircraft.