Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) is an aerospace engineering design and manufacturing company. Founded in 2003 and based in San Luis Obispo, California, it specializes in the development and certified manufacturing of electric aircraft technologies for advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems. The company holds AS9100 certification for its manufacturing processes.
ESAero's work spans several technical domains, including electric and hybrid propulsion, hydrogen fuel cells, rapid prototyping, and flight testing. Its portfolio includes both experimental and operational platforms. Notable projects are the NASA X57 Maxwell, an all-electric experimental airplane, and the LUMBERJACK Group III drone. The company also develops systems for military applications, such as the VESA counter-UAS system and the FAST utility swarm UAS.
The company's capabilities extend to producing specialized testing equipment, such as its EDS Series dynamometers, and developing advanced propulsion solutions like the IE-SOAR lightweight hydrogen fuel cell system. ESAero operates across the commercial and military sectors within the aerospace industry.
