Where Autonomy Meets Airworthiness

Autonomous Systems — Performance

The push for autonomy is real — and growing. We provide the engineering support to keep up with the demand.

Performance Software helps autonomous and unmanned aircraft move from concept to certified, flight-ready reality — supporting commercial and defense programs where safety, reliability, and execution are critical.

Across Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Urban Air Mobility (UAM), and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), developers are moving quickly while navigating evolving requirements, complex certification paths, and increasing pressure to bring safe, reliable platforms into operation.

For nearly 30 years, Performance Software has delivered flight-critical engineering for aerospace and defense programs, including dozens of autonomous platforms. We provide full-lifecycle systems, software, and avionics hardware engineering, along with certification support from early development through deployment.

Turning an autonomous aircraft concept into an operational platform takes more than innovation. It takes the engineering experience to make it fly safely, reliably, and with confidence. That’s where Performance Software comes in.

Autonomy in Action

Real programs, real platforms, real certification pressure — and the engineering to meet it. Here's a look at how Performance Software's engineering expertise supports the autonomy spectrum.

DEFENSE AERIAL REFUELING — AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Project Example

Full software lifecycle development for the flight controls Actuator Control Unit and Remote Interface Unit sensor package on a high-profile unmanned aerial refueling platform — plus FPGA design, development, and testing across current and future system architectures.

AVIONICS SOFTWARE INTEGRATION FOR eVTOL

Project Example

Software and systems integration for a fully electric, autonomous eVTOL aircraft, covering requirements, architecture, design models, and C-language implementation across software, hardware, and subsystem interfaces under DO-178C.

Unmanned Aircraft System — Model-Based Avionics Verification

Project Example

SCADE-based model development and verification of safety-critical avionics software for UAS subsystems — including autopilot, power, landing gear, and fuel systems — with DO-178-aligned verification artifacts.

Different platforms, different missions, the same discipline. That's what it takes to move autonomy from concept to certified reality.

Why Autonomy Programs Choose Performance Software

Autonomy isn't one piece of software, and it isn't one certification checkbox — it's flight controls, sensing, decision-making, and energy management, all built to meet standards that are evolving as quickly as the technology itself.

Most programs split that work across separate engineering and certification partners. Performance Software does both: our engineers support the full stack, and nearly 30 years of experience means one team can build the system and help prove it’s airworthy.

          
          Systems Engineering
          ARP-4754A expertise
            
Requirements & architecture development
Concept of Operations
Interface control documentation
Trade studies for autonomous flight software & eVTOL avionics
System safety assessments (FHA, PSSA, SSA)
Human factors & crew/operator workload analysis

          
          Software Engineering
          DO-178C expertise
            
Planning, development & verification, DAL A–D
Software Design Descriptions & traceability
Structural coverage & Simulink testing
C/C++ implementation for flight control, vehicle management & mission software
Model-based design & auto-code generation
Legacy software modernization & reuse

          
          Avionics Expertise
          Flight deck platform services
Flight Management System integration
Dataloading
Vehicle management computer software (datalink, navigation, propulsion, servo control)
Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) architectures
Communication, navigation & surveillance (CNS) systems

          
          Hardware Engineering
          DO-254 expertise
            
Safety-critical hardware design assurance
FPGA design & development
Circuit card assembly development, concept through build-to-print production
Power supply & electrical systems design
Environmental qualification testing (DO-160)
Obsolescence management & hardware redesign

          
          Test, Verification & Simulation
          SIL & HIL testing
Test automation & flight test data analysis
Monte Carlo simulation
ROS2/Docker-based autonomy test infrastructure
Digital twin & synthetic environment development
Requirements-based test case generation

          
          Certification Liaison
          DO-331 model-based development alignment
DO-200/DO-200A aeronautical data processing
Stage of Involvement (SOI) certification planning
DER-ready documentation

Our Approach

A Partner That Moves at Program Speed

Autonomy programs move fast and shift direction as designs mature and regulations evolve. Performance operates as a lean, responsive extension of your team — bringing the domain expertise of an established supplier while integrating seamlessly within your program.

Nimble teams structured around program timelines, not vendor overhead

Engineers who integrate directly with your requirements, processes, and schedules

Support that scales from prototype through certification and production

Why Trust Performance

Nearly 30 Years of Safety-Critical Trust

Performance Software has earned preferred supplier status with major aircraft OEMs and top-tier avionics suppliers by delivering safety-critical systems on time and on budget. Autonomous systems raise the stakes, but the fundamentals don't change: disciplined engineering, deep certification knowledge, and a team invested in your program's success.

Years Experience

OEM

Preferred Supplier

100%

Safety-Critical Focus

Whether you're bringing an eVTOL aircraft to market or fielding a defense UAS, we're ready to help you get there.

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