Why It Matters
Persistent stratospheric platforms could revolutionize broadband, 5G, and remote‑sensing by offering satellite‑like coverage without the high launch costs or latency of orbiting constellations. As demand for global connectivity grows, TURN’s solar‑powered, long‑duration solution promises a more sustainable and flexible alternative for both commercial and defense applications.
Key Takeaways
- •TURN uses rotating tethered rotors for high‑aspect‑ratio lift.
- •Solar‑powered rotors charge batteries for 24‑hour operation.
- •System targets 12‑mile altitude, bridging cell towers and satellites.
- •NASA, Air Force, Space Force funding supports development.
- •Demonstrator aims 250‑lb payload, 1,300 W power, 60° latitude.
Pulse Analysis
The stratosphere, roughly twelve miles above sea level, offers a sweet spot between terrestrial cell towers and orbital satellites. At that altitude a platform can provide low‑latency, two‑way 5G connectivity without the massive infrastructure costs of ground networks or the launch expenses of constellations. Persistent high‑altitude platforms (HAPS) therefore promise cheaper broadband, real‑time sensing, and resilient communications for remote regions. Companies like DeVorto are targeting this niche, leveraging solar energy and long‑duration batteries to keep a drone aloft indefinitely, effectively creating a floating cell tower.
DeVorto’s breakthrough is the Tethered Uni‑Rotor Network (TURN), a rotating assembly of three‑to‑four small aircraft linked by lightweight tethers. Each rotor carries its own solar panels, battery pack, and propulsion unit, generating lift while the central hub remains passive. The rotation tension stiffens the long, high‑aspect‑ratio wings, solving the flexibility problem that plagues traditional gliders. Custom state‑estimation algorithms were required because conventional accelerometers cannot distinguish gravity from centrifugal forces. By harvesting daylight to recharge batteries and using them at night, the system achieves true 24‑hour persistence without ground‑based power lines.
The platform is now at a critical inflection point. A $1.9 million Space Force grant funds outdoor flight tests aimed at reaching higher altitudes and carrying a 250‑pound payload with roughly 1,300 watts of solar power. If successful, TURN could operate year‑round up to 60° latitude, far beyond the limited summer‑only demonstrations of competitors like the Airbus Zephyr. Such capability would enable broadband backhaul, persistent environmental monitoring, and low‑cost alternatives to satellite constellations for defense and commercial users. DeVorto’s approach therefore reshapes the high‑altitude market, promising scalable, solar‑driven connectivity from the stratosphere.
Episode Description
Justin Selfridge, PhD, is Founder and CEO of Devorto Corporation. Devorto is developing a breakthrough high-altitude platform called the Tethered Uni-Rotor Network, or TURN—a completely new aircraft architecture designed to combine the vertical lift and loitering capability of a helicopter with the aerodynamic efficiency of an airplane, enabling long-duration, solar-powered flight in the stratosphere.
At Devorto, leads the development of this next-generation persistent drone technology. Backed by both private investment and government support from organizations like NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Space Force, Justin and his team are working to redefine how we think about high-altitude operations, with the potential to disrupt both satellite and traditional aerial platform markets.
In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Justin talks about why the stratosphere is such a critical domain for future aviation systems, how the TURN platform works and what makes it different from anything we've seen before, and the real-world applications and impact this technology could have across commercial and defense sectors.
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