Persistent Flight in the Stratosphere - Justin Selfridge, Phd. and CEO of Devorto
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In this episode of The Drone Radio Show, host Randy Goers speaks with Dr. Justin Selfridge, CEO of DeVorto Corporation, about the company's groundbreaking Tethered Uni Rotor Network (TURN) — a revolutionary high-altitude platform designed for persistent solar-powered flight in the stratosphere. Selfridge explains how TURN uses a hub-and-spoke system of tethered, rotating aircraft to create tension in long, slender wings, solving the structural and aerodynamic challenges of traditional high-aspect-ratio designs. Unlike satellites or fixed-wing drones, TURN operates at 12 miles up — a sweet spot between terrestrial towers and orbiting satellites — enabling low-latency, high-resolution communications and Earth observation. The system is powered by solar energy during the day and batteries at night, with the ability to reposition and persist for months. DeVorto is currently testing a scaled demonstrator under a $1.9 million Space Force grant, with potential applications in wildfire monitoring, border security, and broadband connectivity. Selfridge emphasizes that TURN’s true innovation lies not just in endurance, but in being payload-agnostic — an 'aerial taxi' for sensors and payloads to previously inaccessible altitudes. The episode highlights TURN’s unique engineering solutions, including custom state estimation algorithms to handle spinning dynamics and a spiral development approach that prioritizes incremental testing. Selfridge also discusses the strategic advantages of operating in the stratosphere: minimal congestion, reduced vulnerability to attack, and the ability to serve remote areas without the cost of ground infrastructure or satellite constellations. With potential deployment of just 300 units to cover the U.S., TURN could offer a more efficient, flexible, and cost-effective alternative to Starlink’s 42,000-satellite megaconstellation. The conversation closes with a vision of a future where persistent stratospheric flight unlocks new possibilities across defense, environmental monitoring, and global connectivity.
TURN uses a rotating hub-and-spoke system of tethered aircraft to generate wing tension, enabling ultra-efficient, long, slender wings without structural failure.
Operating at 12 miles altitude, TURN bridges the gap between satellites and ground towers, offering low-latency, high-resolution communications and Earth observation.
The system is solar-powered and battery-backed, enabling year-round operation even at high latitudes with limited daylight, unlike current solar drones limited to equatorial summer conditions.
TURN’s design allows repositioning and persistence, making it ideal for wildfire monitoring, border patrol, and broadband in remote regions.
With only ~300 units needed to cover the U.S., TURN offers a far more efficient alternative to satellite megaconstellations like Starlink.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Vision of Persistent Stratospheric Flight
“What would you be able to do if you could fly for 20 times longer than a multi-rotor? What would you be able to do if you could get your payload out of orbit and into the stratosphere?”
Introducing the Tethered Uni Rotor Network (TURN)
Selfridge explains the core innovation of TURN: using rotating tethered aircraft to tension long, slender wings, solving the structural limitations of traditional high-efficiency designs.
Why the Stratosphere? The Middle Ground Between Towers and Satellites
“12 miles up is kind of that nice middle ground where we're still close enough to be able to connect 5G devices with like, you know, cell phone tower in the sky. But we don't have all the logistical nightmares of operating an entire satellite constellation.”
Engineering Breakthroughs: From Helicopter Physics to Custom Controls
“The accelerometer can't tell the difference between gravity and radial acceleration which really messes up those algorithms. So we found that we had to come up with custom state algorithms just to be able to have the system know how it's positioned in space.”
From Concept to Demo: The Spiral Development Path
Selfridge outlines DeVorto’s iterative development process, from early NASA feasibility studies to current outdoor flight testing under a $1.9M Space Force grant.
“What would you be able to do if you could fly for 20 times longer than a multi-rotor? What would you be able to do if you could get your payload out of orbit and into the stratosphere?”
“The accelerometer can't tell the difference between gravity and radial acceleration which really messes up those algorithms. So we found that we had to come up with custom state algorithms just to be able to have the system know how it's positioned in space.”
“It might be an easy target. We'll find out because it's still low power. It's still low heat. So how much targeting would you need? But even if could be targeted, okay, well, if we're talking a million or $2 million aircraft... but you got to launch a 20 or 30 million dollar missile to take it out. That's called winning the call score.”
Host
Guest
Tethered Uni Rotor Network
other
Justin Selfridge
person
DeVorto Corporation
organization
NASA
organization
U.S. Space Force
organization
U.S. Air Force
organization
Starlink
product
Airbus Zephyr
product
DARPA
organization
Google Loon
other
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