# EP Systems: The Power Behind Electric Aviation

- Show: [Moore's Lobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby)
- Published: 2022-12-06
- Length: 1h 02m
- Episode: 7
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-12-06-ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation
- Listen: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/podcast/ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation

## Summary

Michael Armstrong, CTO of Electric Power Systems, discusses the engineering and certification challenges of high-voltage battery systems for electric aviation, including his work on NASA's X-57 and the Diamond Aircraft eDA40. He explains how electric propulsion allows for radical aircraft redesigns, such as distributed propulsion on the X-57 and the DARPA X-24A, while highlighting the unique duty cycles and safety requirements that differentiate aircraft batteries from automotive ones. Armstrong details the process of establishing certification precedents with the FAA and the operational realities of supporting these systems in flight.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-12-06-ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation#t=1) Introduction: Michael Armstrong and Electric Power Systems
- [1:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-12-06-ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation#t=63) Armstrong's Engineering Path: From English Class to Mechanical Engineering
- [4:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-12-06-ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation#t=252) Early Career: Pistachio Processing and Crashworthiness Research
- [13:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-12-06-ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation#t=803) Rolls-Royce and the Napkin PhD: Electrifying Non-Propulsive Systems
- [20:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-12-06-ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation#t=1207) Electric Aviation vs. Traditional Propulsion: Weight, Range, and Design
- [27:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-12-06-ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation#t=1648) NASA and DARPA X-Planes: The X-57 and Flying Harmonica
- [38:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-12-06-ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation#t=2329) Battery Safety, Certification, and the 'Boring' System Goal
- [47:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-12-06-ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation#t=2867) Post-Delivery Support, Maintenance, and Duty Cycles
- [56:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-12-06-ep-systems-the-power-behind-electric-aviation#t=3413) Diamond Aircraft eDA40 Certification and Future of Electric Aviation

## Topics

- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Electric Power Systems (company)
- NASA (company)
- X-57 (product)
- Diamond Aircraft (company)
- eDA40 (product)
- Rolls-Royce (company)
- DARPA (company)
- X-24A (product)
- Uber Elevate (company)
- FAA (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Why Electric Aviation Is Finally Becoming Possible | Anders Forslund](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2026-09-03-why-electric-aviation-is-finally-becoming-possible-anders-forslund) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Electrifying aviation with Kyle Clark of BETA Technologies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-08-24-electrifying-aviation-with-kyle-clark-of-beta-technologies) (How I Built This)
- [Can We Electrify Aviation? Electric vs Fuel Planes #24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-10-04-can-we-electrify-aviation-electric-vs-fuel-planes-24) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [131. Megawatt Motors For Electric Flight](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-07-18-131-megawatt-motors-for-electric-flight) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [52: Maximize the Sonic Boom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-05-21-52-maximize-the-sonic-boom) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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