Advanced Flight Computer to Support Autonomous Flight

Collins Aerospace’s Perigon computer will allow customers to load it with complex software applications including autonomous and fly-by-wire flight control, cybersecurity, vehicle management and predictive health maintenance By DA Staff / 10 Aug 2021

Discover Leading Defense Technology Solutions

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow DA

The new Perigon computer launched by Collins Aerospace has advanced computing power, open-system architecture and flexible configurability designed to support autonomous flight.

“From autonomy to cybersecurity, customers want their platforms to do more than ever before,” said Kim Kinsley, vice president and general manager, Environmental and Airframe Control Systems for Collins Aerospace. 

“Yet more capabilities require a commensurate increase in processing power. Enter Perigon. With its unique combination of power and flexibility, Perigon stands ready to help customers meet the future flight computing requirements of tomorrow.”


Collins announced the development of a next-gen vehicle management computer designed to support autonomous flight in 2018, and since then the company has built a working prototype and is currently performing detailed development and integration testing, with the hope of qualification testing in 2022. 

Perigon, a mathematical term for a 360-degree angle, was chosen as the computer’s name to represent the many capabilities Perigon can offer customers, the holistic view of systems and inputs it provides, and its enhanced flexibility.

Perigon will have the ability to provide 20 times the processing power of Collins’ existing flight control computers, thousands of which are currently in service on a multitude of platforms worldwide. Combined with its open-system design, Perigon’s high computing power will allow customers to load it with a variety of complex software applications, including autonomous and fly-by-wire flight control, cybersecurity, vehicle management and predictive health maintenance. 

Thanks to its enhanced processing power, capabilities that previously required multiple computers across a platform may now be able to be performed by Perigon alone. This could enable customers to reduce the number of computers onboard, resulting in space, weight and cost savings. 

Perigon can be configured as simplex, duplex or triplex redundant. It will be FAA certifiable to facilitate aircraft level certification, available for commercial or military rotary and fixed wing platforms.

“From air transport, to sixth-gen fighters, to the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift program, to aerial firefighting and beyond, we see broad opportunities for Perigon across the aerospace and defense industry,” said Kinsley.

Posted by DA Staff Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Tyto Robotics: Propeller Balancing Methods for UAVs

Tyto Robotics highlights how static, dynamic, and aerodynamic propeller balancing methods correct vibration-related issues in UAV systems

May 12, 2025
Meltio Expands Metal Additive Manufacturing Presence to Portugal

Meltio has partnered with PrimeOut to drive metal 3D printing commercialization and integration in Portugal

May 12, 2025
Creomagic Partnership Delivers Integrated Tactical Communications & Surveillance System

Creomagic and RT LTA have partnered to develop SkyCnet, an integrated aerostat-based system that enhances tactical communications and situational awareness for defense and security operations

May 12, 2025
MIL-STD-461-Ready Rugged Computers at FEINDEF 2025

Neousys and Cenvalsa to showcase extreme-rugged, MIL-STD-461-ready computers at FEINDEF 2025 in Madrid, 12th to 14th May at booth 6A03

May 12, 2025
Precision Inertial Navigation Solutions for GPS-Denied Operations

ANELLO Photonics is a developer of cutting-edge inertial navigation solutions that enable military vehicles, aircraft, naval vessels and other platforms...

May 12, 2025
DTC & Idaho National Laboratory to Advance Secure Mission-Critical Communications

DTC and Idaho National Laboratory have partnered under a CRADA to develop secure, resilient communication technologies for mission-critical defense and national security operations

May 12, 2025

Featured Content

U.S. Army Partnership Advances Autonomous Helicopter Logistics Program

The U.S. Army is partnering with Honeywell and Near Earth Autonomy to retrofit Black Hawk helicopters with scalable autonomy kits for uncrewed logistics operations

May 08, 2025
Modular Head-Mounted Digital System for Real-Time Decision Support in Contested Environments

Galvion's new CORTEX™ system integrates compute, power, and data management into a modular helmet-mounted platform designed for modern tactical operations.

May 06, 2025
Partnership to Enhance Networking Capabilities for Defense Platforms

Amphenol Aerospace and BotBlox have partnered to distribute and integrate compact, rugged Ethernet hardware for defense platforms, enhancing networking capabilities and accelerating product development for uncrewed and mobile systems

May 01, 2025
Advancing Defense Capability Through Strategic Collaboration Defense Advancement works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive defense capabilities forward.