First Principles with Christian Keil

Latest Episodes:

#9: Justin Lopas - Introducing the Next-Gen Home Battery May 07, 2024

Show notes

Today’s sponsor: If you want a platform that empowers your team to collaborate effectively and focus on shared goals, you can get started with Coda today for FREE. Head over to https://Coda.io/fp

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Episode 9: Justin worked at SpaceX and Anduril before starting Base Power, which is aiming to build a modern power company — and an energy trading business on top of it.

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(00:00) - Intro

(00:41) - What Base Power is Building

(03:26) - How Texas' Energy Grid and Market Works

(08:42) - Sponsor Break

(09:28) - Why Batteries are Needed to Support the Grid

(14:09) - Base Power's Unique Battery Deployment Model

(19:35) - Optimizing the Battery System Design

(24:14) - Streamlining the Deployment Process

(29:03) - Build vs Buy Decisions Across the Value Chain

(32:18) - Software Strategy Across Device, Cloud, and Customer

(36:00) - Balancing Customer Needs with Grid Services

(39:06) - Potential for DC Power Distribution in Homes

(40:31) - The Vision for Long-Duration Storage

(43:51) - Scaling Base Power and Driving Costs Down

(48:18) - Defining the Interfaces and Controlling the Value Chain

(52:04) - Advice for Startup Founders and Closing Thoughts

(56:11) - Conclusion

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Links:

Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
Justin Lopas – https://twitter.com/JLopas
Base Power - https://www.basepowercompany.com/

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#8: Ben Nowack - Selling Sunlight to Solar Farms After Dark May 02, 2024

Show notes

Episode 8: Ben Nowack built a fusion reactor in high school. Now he’s building huge mirrors in space that reflect sunlight onto solar farms at night.

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(00:00) - Intro
(00:39) - What Reflect Orbital is Building
(02:30) - How the Satellite Mirrors Work
(06:16) - Deploying the Mirrors in Space
(10:14) - Mirror Size Considerations
(13:51) - Dealing with Space Debris and Micrometeorites
(17:07) - Early Demonstrations with High Altitude Balloons
(23:11) - Advantages over Other Space Solar Concepts
(28:56) - Target Customers and Business Model
(35:57) - Constellation Size and Orbit Design
(40:42) - Using Solar Sailing for Propulsion
(49:38) - Benefits of Solar Sailing for Space Exploration
(54:06) - Tiny Force of Solar Sailing and Payload Limitations
(55:58) - Maintaining Altitude vs Pointing at Solar Farms
(59:14) - Attitude Control with Control Moment Gyros
(01:02:44) - Desaturating Control Moment Gyros
(01:05:21) - Monte Carlo Simulations for Constellation Design
(01:11:00) - Monte Carlo Simulation 101
(01:13:38) - Exciting Developments in Solar and Energy
(01:22:17) - Sunlight as a Service Business Model
(01:24:04) - Wrap Up and How to Learn More

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Links:

Christian Keil: https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
Ben Nowack: https://twitter.com/bennbuilds
Reflect Orbital: https://www.reflectorbital.com/

First Principles:

Reflectance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflectance
Solar power: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/135642main_balance_trifold21.pdf
Radiation pressure for solar sailing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_pressure#:~:text=The%20assertion%20that%20light%2C%20as,and%20Gordon%20Ferrie%20Hull%20in
CMG “control moment gyroscope“: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_moment_gyroscope
Monte Carlo simulation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Carlo_method

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#7: Nato Saichek - Shooting Satellites Into Orbit at Hypersonic Speeds Apr 17, 2024

Show notes

Nato decided against building a laser-powered rocket in favor of Longshot Space: a gun powered by pressurized air that can shoot payloads into orbit.

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(00:00) - Intro

(00:42) - Nato's Early Idea for a Laser Rocket at Astranis

(02:30) - Nato Initially Being Skeptical of Longshot's Gun Idea

(04:02) - Writing a Simulation that Showed a 4km Gun Could Reach Orbit

(05:43) - Deciding to Join Longshot Full-Time after an SBIR Grant

(07:22) - What Longshot is Building - A Massive Gun to Launch Payloads to Orbit

(09:40) - Comparing Longshot to Hyperloop and SpinLaunch

(10:52) - The Projectile's Trajectory after Exiting the Gun

(13:35) - Reasons for Choosing a Gas Gun over Railgun or Traditional Gun

(16:11) - The Critical First Moments after the Projectile Exits the Gun

(18:02) - Longshot's Plan to Start with Hypersonic Testing

(20:24) - Target Launch Costs of $10-$500 per kg, Orders of Magnitude Cheaper

(23:28) - Using Space Tugs to Enable Different Orbits from an Equatorial Gun

(26:08) - Drastically Lower Costs Enabling Things like Tractors on the Moon

(28:30) - The Path from Garage Prototype to Orbital Launch System

(31:44) - Traditional Rockets vs Gun Launch Physics and Engineering

(35:35) - Iterating on Burst Disk Design to Get Microsecond Timing

(44:04) - Going from Failed Mach 2 Shots to Mach 4 by Improving Projectiles

(46:54) - Doing Hypersonic Testing in a Converted Auto Shop

(49:14) - Iterating on Ways to Safely Catch Hypersonic Projectiles

(51:53) - Using High Speed Cameras to Analyze Projectile Behavior

(54:04) - Light Gates to Trigger Precise Timing of Barrel Accelerators

(56:40) - Parts of the System with High vs Low Confidence

(59:54) - Nato's Philosophy as a Generalist Engineer

(01:03:15) - The Elegance of Passive Analog Guidance like the Sunbeam Toaster

(01:07:17) - Being Okay with Initially Being Bad at Things to Become a Generalist

(01:09:30) - Preference for Working on Civilization-Changing Mega Projects

(01:10:26) - Conclusion

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Links:

Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
Nato Saichek – https://twitter.com/natosaichek
Longshot Space – https://www.longshotspace.com/

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#6: Danielle Fong - An Engine Powered By Light Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

Sponsor: Remove your personal information from the web at JoinDeleteMe.com/FP20 and use code FP20 for 20% off

DeleteMe international Plans: https://international.joindeleteme.com

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Episode 6: When heated, sodium emits energy via visible light at 2.1eV (or 589 nm wavelength). So, if you make an engine that heats up sodium, you can tune a solar cell to exactly that frequency and capture light efficiently — giving you the portability of a battery with the energy density of hydrocarbons.

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(00:00) - Intro
(00:32) - Danielle’s Background
(04:40) - Early Interest in Energy and Fusion Research
(08:14) - Leaving Academia to Become an Entrepreneur
(11:40) - Starting LightSail and Innovating in Compressed Air Energy Storage
(15:35) - Reflecting on LightSail and Compressed Air Energy Storage
(19:48) - Limitations of Batteries, Engines, and Fuel Cells
(22:30) - The Vision for Portable, Energy-Dense Power Generation
(27:16) - Rethinking Combustion and Light Generation for Compact Power
(31:56) - How the New Power Generation Process Works
(37:58) - Managing High Temperatures and System Components
(42:26) - Recirculating Heat for Higher Efficiency
(48:38) - Theoretical Limits and Practical Challenges
(52:50) - Engineering Solutions to Minimize Losses
(58:32) - The Experimental Approach to Rapid Learning
(01:02:54) - Balancing Exploratory Work with Systematic Testing
(01:07:40) - Developing the Craftsmanship of Research
(01:11:15) - Managing Company Priorities while Preserving Creativity
(01:15:18) - Advice for Learning and Advancing Technology
(01:18:36) - Building Real Projects and Sharing Knowledge
(01:22:10) - Conclusion

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Links:
Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
Danielle Fong – https://twitter.com/DanielleFong
Lightcell Energy – https://www.lightcellenergy.com/

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Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm

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#5: Garrett McCurrach - Underground Hyperlogistics Delivery Drones Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

Episode 5: Garrett wants to deliver any good in under ten minutes, for under a quarter, using drones that burrow underground.

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(00:00) - Intro

(00:50) - What Pipedream is Building

(02:17) - Garrett's Background and Learning to Build Businesses

(04:02) - How Pipedream Moves Things Efficiently in Cities

(07:07) - Why Pneumatic Tubes are Not the Solution

(10:08) - How Pipedream's System Works with Robots, Rails, and Totes

(13:20) - Designing the Track to Handle Curves and Turns

(17:27) - Pipedream's Initial Focus on Instant Pickup and Curbside Delivery

(20:12) - The Vision for Edge Warehouses and Hyperlogistics

(23:05) - The Key Challenges in Scaling Autonomous Logistics

(28:37) - Why Last Mile Delivery Speed is More About Deployment Than Robot Speed

(31:10) - The Hardest Problems Pipedream is Solving

(37:14) - How Pipedream Decided on Underground Delivery Infrastructure

(41:37) - Leveraging Existing Utility Installation and Regulation Practices

(44:49) - Believing in the Vision Despite Skepticism

(47:53) - The Huge Potential of Last Mile Logistics Innovation

(50:51) - Garrett's Journey to Find a Meaningful 10-Year Opportunity

(54:49) - Realizing Underground Infrastructure was More Feasible Than Expected

(57:22) - Taking the Unconventional Path Despite Discouragement

(01:00:00) - The Engineering Appeal and Potential Impact of Last Mile Logistics

(01:04:02) - Borrowing from Proven Utility Distribution Models like Water and Sewage

(01:07:07) - The Perfect Timing and Conditions for Logistics Disruption

(01:11:35) - Cities' Incentives to Support Underground Utility Infrastructure

(01:14:27) - Conclusion

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Links:

Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
Garret McCurrach – https://twitter.com/thegarrettscott
Pipedream - https://www.pipedreamlabs.co/

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Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm

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#4: Augustus Doricko - Weather-Modification Drones Are Coming Soon Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Sponsor: Remove your personal information from the web at JoinDeleteMe.com/FP20 and use code FP20 for 20% off

DeleteMe international Plans: https://international.joindeleteme.com

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Episode 4: Augustus Doricko isn’t trying to play God with his weather-modification company, Rainmaker, but he does admit that quelling hurricanes or creating atmospheric rivers would be pretty based. By using cheap drones to disperse ice nucleation agents, Augustus will literally make it rain — and save the American West in the process.

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(00:00) - Intro

(00:41) - What Rainmaker Technology is Building

(01:27) - Augustus' Background

(03:58) - Why Cloud Seeding and Water Scarcity are Important Problems

(07:07) - The Dialectic on How to Solve Water Scarcity

(10:08) - How Weather Modification and Cloud Seeding Work

(13:20) - How Rainmaker Identifies Suitable Clouds for Seeding

(17:27) - How Rainmaker Delivers Seeding Agents to Clouds

(20:12) - Rainmaker's Nucleation Agent Dispersion Mechanism

(23:05) - Rainmaker's Search for Alternative Nucleation Agents

(26:37) - Attribution of Precipitation to Cloud Seeding

(31:10) - Rainmaker's Initial Target Market and Value Proposition

(37:14) - Extending Rainfall Benefits with Cloud Seeding

(41:37) - Rainmaker's Pricing Model

(44:49) - Government Interest and Spending on Weather Modification

(47:53) - China's Leadership in Weather Modification

(50:51) - The Need for Pro-Human, Pro-Environment Climate Engineering

(52:52) - Technical and Business Challenges for Rainmaker

(54:49) - Advice for Aspiring Engineers in Weather Modification

(57:22) - Positive Sum Aspects of Cloud Seeding

(01:01:27) - Government Contracting Potential for Rainmaker

(01:04:02) - Identifying Easy vs. Challenging Components of Rainmaker's System

(01:07:07) - Conclusion and Advice for Aspiring Weather Modification Engineers

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Links:

Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
Augustus Doricko – https://twitter.com/ADoricko
Rainmaker – https://www.makerain.com/

First Principles:

Ice Nucleation – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_nucleus
Drainage basins – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drainage_basin
Nucleation via Drone – https://asr.science.energy.gov/news/program-news/post/14630
Weather Modification – https://libguides.library.noaa.gov/weather-climate/weather-modification-project-reports

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Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm

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#3: Extropic - Why Thermodynamic Computing is the Future of AI (PUBLIC DEBUT) Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

Episode 3: Extropic is building a new kind of computer – not classical bits, nor quantum qubits, but a secret, more complex third thing. They call it a Thermodynamic Computer, and it might be many orders of magnitude more powerful than even the most powerful supercomputers today.

Check out their “litepaper” to learn more: https://www.extropic.ai/future.

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(00:00) - Intro

(00:41) - Guillaume's Background

(02:40) - Trevor's Background

(04:02) - What is Extropic Building? High-Level Explanation

(07:07) - Frustrations with Quantum Computing and Noise

(10:08) - Scaling Digital Computers and Thermal Noise Challenges

(13:20) - How Digital Computers Run Sampling Algorithms Inefficiently

(17:27) - Limitations of Gaussian Distributions in ML

(20:12) - Why GPUs are Good at Deep Learning but Not Sampling

(23:05) - Extropic's Approach: Harnessing Noise with Thermodynamic Computers

(28:37) - Bounding the Noise: Not Too Noisy, Not Too Pristine

(31:10) - How Thermodynamic Computers Work: Inputs, Parameters, Outputs

(37:14) - No Quantum Coherence in Thermodynamic Computers

(41:37) - Gaining Confidence in the Idea Over Time

(44:49) - Using Superconductors and Scaling to Silicon

(47:53) - Thermodynamic Computing vs Neuromorphic Computing

(50:51) - Disrupting Computing and AI from First Principles

(52:52) - Early Applications in Low Data, Probabilistic Domains

(54:49) - Vast Potential for New Devices and Algorithms in AI's Early Days

(57:22) - Building the Next S-Curve to Extend Moore's Law for AI

(59:34) - The Meaning and Purpose Behind Extropic's Mission

(01:04:54) - Call for Talented Builders to Join Extropic

(01:09:34) - Putting Ideas Out There and Creating Value for the Universe

(01:11:35) - Conclusion and Wrap-Up

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Links:

Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
Guillaume Verd - https://twitter.com/GillVerd
Beff Jezos - https://twitter.com/BasedBeffJezos
Trevor McCourt - https://twitter.com/trevormccrt1

First Principles:

Gaussian Distribution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_distribution
Energy-Based Models: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy-based_model
Shannon’s Theorem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noisy-channel_coding_theorem

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#2: Casey Handmer - Pulling Methane From Thin Air (Terraform Industries) Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Sponsor: Remove your personal information from the web at JoinDeleteMe.com/FP20 and use code FP20 for 20% off

DeleteMe international Plans: https://international.joindeleteme.com

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Episode 2: Casey Handmer, the polymath founder and CEO of Terraform Industries, explains the first principles behind his idea to synthesize hydrocarbons (starting with natural gas, or methane) from the atmosphere.

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(00:00) - Intro
(00:56) - What Terraform Industries is Building
(02:00) - Casey's Background as an Engineer
(04:15) - Why Synthetic Hydrocarbons are an Urgent Need
(06:30) - The Importance of Hydrocarbons
(10:40) - Terraform's Process for Synthetic Methane
(13:57) - Cheap Solar Energy is the Key Enabler
(18:05) - How the World Captures and Uses Electricity
(21:00) - Why Use Solar Energy to Make Hydrocarbons
(24:51) - How Is This Possible?
(28:23) - Learning Curve Effects on Solar Cost Declines
(31:00) - Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act
(34:50) - Why Is Lower Solar Efficiency Okay?
(37:35) - How the Direct Air Capture Process Works
(46:54) - The Sabatier Reaction
(51:07) - Path to Commercialization and End-to-End Demo
(52:52) - Deploying Alongside Existing Natural Gas Infrastructure
(54:49) - Expansion into Synthetic Fuels and Beyond
(56:20) - Final Thoughts

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Links:
Terraform - https://terraformindustries.com/
Casey Handmer - https://twitter.com/CJHandmer
Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle
“How to Industrialize Mars”: https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/how-to-industrialize-mars/
Terraform Industries White Paper: https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/2023/01/09/terraform-industries-whitepaper-2-0/

First Principles:
Sabatier Reaction: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabatier_reaction
Energy Density: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_density
Photovoltaic Cells: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell
Direct Air Capture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_air_capture
Electrolysis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis

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Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm

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#1: Ian Brooke – Electric Adaptive Jet Engines (Astro Mechanica) Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

Sponsor: Secure by Design - http://tinyurl.com/5ds2pyjv

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[Series Premiere] Founder Ian Brooke gives his first public interview to talk about Astro Mechanica, a new startup building electric-adaptive jet engines. And, possibly, the world’s fastest plane. And the cheapest way to orbit. (It’s an ambitious startup idea.)

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(00:00) - Intro

(01:27) - What Astro Mechanica is Building

(05:50) - Jets vs. Rockets

(12:07) - How to Generate Thrust

(15:07) - Engineering Challenges for Traditional Turbofans

(17:07) - The New Paradigm: Electric Adaptive Jets

(24:23) - Specific Impulse and Efficiency

(32:07) - Ramjet vs. Scramjet

(38:12) - Staging Considerations

(42:25) - Fastest Plane Ever Flown: SR-71 Blackbird and its Challenges

(44:07) - Transitioning from Ramjet to Rocket

(47:27) - Building the Next Boeing

(53:07) - Everyone Gets a Private Jet

(56:07) - Why Start with Space Launch?

(1:06:07) - Where You Go From There

(1:10:07) - Why Everyone Loves Toyotas

(1:16:12) - The Supersonic Jet Engine Next Door

(1:19:57) - Starting the Company

(1:23:07) - What’s Next?

(1:27:37) - How Do You Do What You’re Doing?

(1:31:07) - hiring@astromecha.co

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Links:

Astro Mechanica – https://astromecha.co, hiring@astromecha.co
Ian Brooke – https://twitter.com/k2pilot
Christian Keil – https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle

First Principles:

Specific Impulse (ISP) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_impulse
Rocket Equation – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsiolkovsky_rocket_equation
Navier Stokes Equations – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navier%E2%80%93Stokes_equations
Power-to-Weight Ratio – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-to-weight_ratio

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Production and marketing by The Deep View ( https://thedeepview.co ). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm

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#0: Welcome to First Principles Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

Episode 0: On First Principles, Christian Keil ( https://twitter.com/pronounced_kyle ), Host and Chief of Staff at Astranis, dives into the complex world of deep tech startups — and hopes to make them approachable, and PhD-optional.

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Production and marketing by The Deep View ( https://thedeepview.co ). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm

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