News

We talked with Christopher P. Ley, CEO of Altilium Magna, to know more about his solution and the challenges of building a startup in the space industry.

1- Can you briefly explain what your solution is all about? What’s unique about it?

We empower our clients with highly accurate Battery Management Analytics that can accurately estimate and predict critical states of Lithium-Ion batteries. We have developed a unique adaptive battery model that learns the ever-changing internal characteristics of the battery system so that it can accurately predict the autonomy (e.g. range) of a system that relies on batteries to operate e.g. Satellites, e-Aircraft, e-Vehicles. It does this by learning online how the battery system is degrading over time from operational data alone and can provide a wealth of (precise) insights into the battery system for operations like range predictions, fleet management and life cycle management. Our technology is non-invasive and requires no calibration nor deviation from the operation and is best-in-class, backed by a decade of published research and laboratory testing.

2- What’s the story behind your company? How was the idea for this business born?

Altilium Magna’s core technology is the result of the commercialisation of our founder, Dr. Christopher Ley’s PhD thesis and over 10 years of research & development and commercial experience. The commercialisation was born from this state of the art research as well as the realisation that commercially battery management technology is almost a decade behind the best in class analytics and in order for there to be a rapid shift to the adequate utilisation of battery systems in vehicles etc. there needs to be a rapid leap in technology. Altilium Magna intends to do just that.

3-Which is the challenge that your solution tackles, and how do you set apart from the other companies with similar solutions?

We have developed a unique adaptive battery model that learns the ever-changing internal characteristics of the battery system so that it can accurately predict the autonomy (e.g. range) of a system that relies on batteries to operate e.g. Satellites, e-Aircraft, e-Vehicles. It does this by learning online how the battery system is degrading over time from operational data alone and can provide a wealth of (precise) insights into the battery system for operations like range predictions, fleet management and life cycle management. Our technology is non-invasive and requires no calibration nor deviation from the operation and is best-in-class, backed by a decade of published research and laboratory testing.

4- What are your goals, and what’s the biggest challenge you are trying to overcome at this moment?

We are attempting to establish a pilot project in order to demonstrate the superiority of our technology in order to gain traction. Practically all companies in this space are gigantic (e.g. Boeing) so initiating a B2B relationship as a start-up is hard, coupled with the fact that no one wants to be first in shifting to a new commercially unproven technology (apart from the laboratory).

5- What advice would you give to an entrepreneur trying to pave his/her way in the space sector landscape?

Try to foster as many contacts as you can in the sector, relationships can pan out in interesting ways.

6- About SUN, why did you apply?

To foster relationships in the space industry, hopefully with the ultimate end of beginning a pilot project.