Build Safe and Secure Software for Aviation and Aerospace 

Take your aviation software engineering to new heights with accelerated time-to-market. Qt’s comprehensive cross-platform tools empower your aviation or aerospace development team to meet the software requirements with high performance, compatibility, reliability, and scalability.

Explore Qt Development Framework and Tools

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Lower the Total Cost of Aviation Software Engineering with Faster Development

Design cost-effective and adaptable systems according to Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles of interoperability, expense reduction, and flexibility. 

Qt provides a robust set of libraries and tools for creating modular software architectures, allowing you to select and integrate the necessary components while promoting seamless interoperability. Qt's production-proven components can be reused across projects, saving development time and reducing costs. Consistent APIs across platforms ensure smooth communication between modules. The dynamic loading and responsive layouts support your team in creating one HMI that can run on different screen sizes and target hardware.

Qt framework and tools enable a fast workflow from prototyping to testing. Developers can seamlessly export designs from design tools like Figma with Qt Design Studio for easy UI creation, continue taking the development project further with Qt Creator, and utilize modules like Qt Quick, which offer ready-to-use high-level components with optimal performance.  Boot to Qt provides an easy start on prototyping for embedded devices. Qt's cross-platform and cross-compilation capabilities allow your team to choose their own development setup.

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Meeting the Aviation Industry Standards of Quality, Safety, and Security

Qt Quality Assurance tools enable a shift left in assuring the software quality, including compliance with coding guidelines (Axivion), code coverage analysis (Coco), and automated QA tooling for early verification of the software functions (Squish).

The later any software issues are discovered in the product lifecycle, the more expensive the repair will be. The shift-left method Qt Quality Assurance tooling supports emphasizes early testing and defect detection. By catching issues during development, teams reduce rework, enhance code quality, and accelerate delivery cycles. The Qt Quality Assurance tools Squish and Coco are fit to be used for safety-critical software applications in compliance with safety standards and regulatory bodies, including DO-330: for Airborne Systems subject to DO-178C and DO-278A and IEC 61508: Functional Safety of Electrical/Electronic/Programmable Electronic Safety-related Systems.

Adherence to MISRA guidelines is a standard practice, particularly in embedded systems where functional safety is paramount. With Axivion, you can ensure compliance with the MISRA Coding Guidelines while developing safety-critical software. Axivion Static Code Analysis includes a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) Checker, enabling you to proactively identify security issues listed in the CWE within your code. Furthermore, Axivion Architecture Verification allows you to analyze your software architecture, helping uncover security vulnerabilities stemming from architectural decisions.

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Unlocking the High Performance and Efficiency of Avionics Software

The Qt framework delivers optimized performance and resource efficiency while seamlessly mitigating the risk of unexpected failures or disruptions.

The commitment to stability, resiliency, and reliability is crucial for aviation systems, where safety and uninterrupted functionality are non-negotiable. By adhering to best practices and continuous security assessments, Qt ensures the integrity and safety of aviation software. Qt provides compatibility with multiple Real-Time Operating System options. This flexibility allows developers to choose the most suitable RTOS for their aviation project requirements. Tools like Qt Safe Renderer ensure functional safety by partitioning the safety-critical functionality into an independent subsystem running its own process. Qt provides Long Term Support (LTS) versions, guaranteeing the relevant safety and critical fixes. Additionally, Qt can provide a comprehensive Software Bill of Materials (BOM) for transparency and compliance.

For creating advanced, high-performing UI designs, Qt offers efficient 3D rendering, powerful mapping capabilities via Qt Location and Qt Positioning, and an intuitive Qt Graphs module for height maps, spectrograms, and scatter graphs. Inside Qt Creator, you'll find out-of-the-box debugging and performance analysis tools to confirm that the UIs you create meet the high-performance requirements.

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Flexibility and Scalability for Futureproofing Aviation Software

Qt framework's modular approach empowers your team to develop scalable solutions while maintaining flexibility across the aviation software creation.

In aviation & aerospace software development, maintaining flexibility while adhering to safety standards is paramount. Qt framework's modular approach allows developers to use only what's needed, avoiding bloated software. Whether customizing existing modules or creating new ones, our straightforward plugin creation capabilities empower you to build scalable solutions. Qt provides production-proven components and functions that can be reused across different projects. 

Reusability also means not needing to rewrite components due to version changes in the development framework. Qt framework's commitment to version compatibility with backward binary and source compatibility in minor releases ensures smooth version transitions without costly rewrites. Qt's tools also support customizable offline installations. This feature is particularly valuable for secure air-gapped networks in aviation environments. Developer teams can tailor installations to meet specific needs without compromising security.

Customer Stories Built with Qt

Panasonic Avionics

Built with Qt

“We use Qt in a lot of different development aspects. For example, we use it for creating a certification application that's actually used to certify all the wiring of the aircraft before deployment. We also offer a wide range of different form factors... We want to be able to develop once and show it on everything.'”

– Gary Towsend, Software Manager, Panasonic Avionics

 

By using Qt (with C++ and QML), the developers at Panasonic Avionics are able to focus on the design and the usability of the interactive.


Use case and application

In-Flight Entertainment Systems


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SaaB Technologies

Built with Qt

“We like to use Qt because it has accessible user documentation and easy-to-find good examples, and it offers many layers of flexibility.”

– Michiel Jansen, Air Traffic Management and Marine Traffic Management Software, SaaB Technologies

 

SaaB Technologies specializes in creating sophisticated air and marine traffic management software, leveraging Qt for both GUI and backend processes, including radar data processing, and exploring Qt WebAssembly and QML for future enhancements to improve testing and performance on various platforms.


Use case and application

Air Traffic Management Solutions


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Yuneec

Built with Qt

“I think the key benefit is staying lean and maintaining a single code base with a very small number of developers. Right now, our team has one full-time and one part-time developer, and they're able to maintain and develop all the features we need.”

– Paul Chen, Global Software Director, Yuneec

 

Yuneec adopted an open-source project called QGroundControl, providing a mission planner and is built on Qt. Yuneec's benefits of using Qt include a unified user experience across platforms, a lean codebase with a small development team, and the cost efficiency of managing their consumer line with fewer developers while also looking into future enhancements like 3D mission planning.


Use case and application

Ground Control Stations


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Lufthansa Technik

Built with Qt

“The main benefit of using Qt is its cross-platform capability.”

– Janus Dybulla, Software Engineer, Lufthansa Technik

 

Lufthansa Technik enhanced its cabin management and inflight entertainment systems by adopting Qt and KDAB for a flexible, cross-platform UI. This enabled rapid prototyping and easier maintenance across various devices.


Use case and application

In-Flight Entertainment Systems


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Drone/Unmanned Autonomous Systems (UAV) Ground Control Station

Built with Qt

“I'm running a drone program, a start-up within the company, and really, I don't think it would have happened without the help of Qt.”

– Iain Galloway, Drone Program Lead, NXP

 

The NXP drone program, leveraging a wide range of company products for autonomous vehicles, successfully accelerated its development with the help of Qt's Professional Services. This collaboration enabled quick software updates and the integration of new technologies, facilitating timely market entry and project success.


Use case and application

Drone/UAV Control Software


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Skyguide

Tested with Squish

“The fact that we’ve reduced the needed framework down to one tool is one reason we chose Squish.”

– Skyguide

 

Skyguide has a longstanding history of contributing to the development of Swiss aviation. The company utilizes Squish for comprehensive test automation across various platforms/devices, and leveraging advanced automation techniques. Squish also streamlines the testing process for its flight radar system while fostering collaboration between technical and non-technical team members.


Use case and application

Air Traffic Management Solutions


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HENSOLDT

Architecture Analysis for Aerospace Software

“With the Axivion Suite, we have significantly reduced our integration effort and integration risk.”

– Daniel Zimmermann, Head of OSS Sofware, HENSOLDT Sensors GmbH

 

HENSOLDT, an independent global leader in premium sensors for security missions, employs the Axivion Suite for efficient product-line architecture management and variant development in aerospace software. This innovative approach ensures compliance with specified architectures, reduces maintenance efforts, and enhances the development process by identifying and correcting deviations promptly.


Use case and application

Ground Control Stations

Simulation and Training Systems

Air Traffic Management Solutions


View Case

More About Tools for Aviation & Aerospace Software Development

 

Build Safe & Reliable Embedded Devices

With Qt Safe Renderer, you can develop modern embedded systems that are both functionally safe and fully dependable.

Read more

Automated GUI Testing that Works

Take the complexity out of testing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and human-machine interfaces (HMIs) – even in the face of product evolution and safety-critical applications.

Read more

Static Code Analysis & Architecture Verification

Enhance the efficiency and productivity of your team and maintain the high quality of your code.

Read more

Build Your next Avionics or Aerospace Software with Qt

Revolutionize your aviation software engineering by harnessing the power of interoperability and cross-platform functionality, ensuring your applications operate flawlessly both in the skies and on the ground with unparalleled security.

In the critical sectors of aviation and aerospace, where safety and precision are paramount, there’s no room for compromise on the integrity, performance, and reliability of your software solutions. Qt equips your development team with the advanced framework and tools necessary for crafting superior aviation UI applications, backed by a suite of thorough architecture verification, analysis and testing capabilities.

 

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