diff --git a/mission/devices/SolarArrayDeploymentHandler.cpp b/mission/devices/SolarArrayDeploymentHandler.cpp
index e3357a53..fac22115 100644
--- a/mission/devices/SolarArrayDeploymentHandler.cpp
+++ b/mission/devices/SolarArrayDeploymentHandler.cpp
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 #include "SolarArrayDeploymentHandler.h"
 
-#include <devices/gpioIds.h>
-#include <fsfw/ipc/QueueFactory.h>
-#include <fsfw/objectmanager/ObjectManager.h>
-#include <fsfw_hal/common/gpio/GpioCookie.h>
+#include "devices/gpioIds.h"
+#include "fsfw/ipc/QueueFactory.h"
+#include "fsfw/objectmanager/ObjectManager.h"
+#include "fsfw_hal/common/gpio/GpioCookie.h"
+
+#include <filesystem>
 
 SolarArrayDeploymentHandler::SolarArrayDeploymentHandler(object_id_t setObjectId_,
                                                          GpioIF& gpioInterface,
@@ -17,16 +19,36 @@ SolarArrayDeploymentHandler::SolarArrayDeploymentHandler(object_id_t setObjectId
       deplSA2(deplSA2),
       mainLineSwitcher(mainLineSwitcher_),
       mainLineSwitch(mainLineSwitch_),
+      sdcMan(sdcMountedIF),
       actionHelper(this, nullptr) {
   auto mqArgs = MqArgs(setObjectId_, static_cast<void*>(this));
   commandQueue = QueueFactory::instance()->createMessageQueue(
       cmdQueueSize, MessageQueueMessage::MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE, &mqArgs);
 }
 
-SolarArrayDeploymentHandler::~SolarArrayDeploymentHandler() {}
+SolarArrayDeploymentHandler::~SolarArrayDeploymentHandler() = default;
 
 ReturnValue_t SolarArrayDeploymentHandler::performOperation(uint8_t operationCode) {
+  using namespace std::filesystem;
   handleStateMachine();
+  auto activeSdc = sdcMan.getActiveSdCard();
+  if (activeSdc and activeSdc.value() == sd::SdCard::SLOT_0 and
+      sdcMan.isSdCardUsable(activeSdc.value())) {
+    if (exists(SD_0_DEPL_FILE)) {
+      // perform autonomous deployment handling
+      performAutonomousDepl(sd::SdCard::SLOT_0);
+    }
+  } else if (activeSdc and activeSdc.value() == sd::SdCard::SLOT_1 and
+             sdcMan.isSdCardUsable(activeSdc.value())) {
+    if (exists(SD_1_DEPL_FILE)) {
+      // perform autonomous deployment handling
+      performAutonomousDepl(sd::SdCard::SLOT_1);
+    }
+  }
+  return returnvalue::OK;
+}
+
+ReturnValue_t SolarArrayDeploymentHandler::performAutonomousDepl(sd::SdCard sdCard) {
   return returnvalue::OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/mission/devices/SolarArrayDeploymentHandler.h b/mission/devices/SolarArrayDeploymentHandler.h
index 74d207a9..9e0bdfa1 100644
--- a/mission/devices/SolarArrayDeploymentHandler.h
+++ b/mission/devices/SolarArrayDeploymentHandler.h
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 #ifndef MISSION_DEVICES_SOLARARRAYDEPLOYMENT_H_
 #define MISSION_DEVICES_SOLARARRAYDEPLOYMENT_H_
 
+#include <unordered_map>
+
 #include "devices/powerSwitcherList.h"
+#include "events/subsystemIdRanges.h"
 #include "fsfw/action/HasActionsIF.h"
 #include "fsfw/devicehandlers/CookieIF.h"
 #include "fsfw/devicehandlers/DeviceHandlerIF.h"
@@ -12,10 +15,6 @@
 #include "fsfw/timemanager/Countdown.h"
 #include "fsfw_hal/common/gpio/GpioIF.h"
 #include "mission/memory/SdCardMountedIF.h"
-
-#include <unordered_map>
-
-#include "events/subsystemIdRanges.h"
 #include "returnvalues/classIds.h"
 
 /**
@@ -28,7 +27,10 @@ class SolarArrayDeploymentHandler : public ExecutableObjectIF,
                                     public HasActionsIF {
  public:
   static constexpr DeviceCommandId_t DEPLOY_SOLAR_ARRAYS_MANUALLY = 0x5;
-
+  static const char SD_0_DEPL_FILE[] = "/mnt/sd0/conf/deployment";
+  static const char SD_1_DEPL_FILE[] = "/mnt/sd1/conf/deployment";
+  static const char SD_0_DEPLY_INFO[] = "/mnt/sd0/conf/deployment_info.txt";
+  static const char SD_1_DEPLY_INFO[] = "/mnt/sd1/conf/deployment_info.txt";
   /**
    * @brief constructor
    *
@@ -46,8 +48,7 @@ class SolarArrayDeploymentHandler : public ExecutableObjectIF,
    */
   SolarArrayDeploymentHandler(object_id_t setObjectId, GpioIF& gpio,
                               PowerSwitchIF& mainLineSwitcher, pcdu::Switches mainLineSwitch,
-                              gpioId_t deplSA1, gpioId_t deplSA2,
-                              SdCardMountedIF& sdcMountedIF);
+                              gpioId_t deplSA1, gpioId_t deplSA2, SdCardMountedIF& sdcMountedIF);
 
   virtual ~SolarArrayDeploymentHandler();
 
@@ -84,6 +85,8 @@ class SolarArrayDeploymentHandler : public ExecutableObjectIF,
   //
   //  StateMachine stateMachine = WAIT_ON_DELOYMENT_COMMAND;
 
+  ReturnValue_t performAutonomousDepl(sd::SdCard sdCard);
+
   /**
    * This countdown is used to check if the PCDU sets the 8V line on in the intended time.
    */
@@ -106,9 +109,6 @@ class SolarArrayDeploymentHandler : public ExecutableObjectIF,
   gpioId_t deplSA1;
   gpioId_t deplSA2;
 
-  /** Queue to receive messages from other objects. */
-  MessageQueueIF* commandQueue = nullptr;
-
   /**
    * After initialization this pointer will hold the reference to the main line switcher object.
    */
@@ -117,8 +117,13 @@ class SolarArrayDeploymentHandler : public ExecutableObjectIF,
   /** Switch number of the 8V power switch */
   uint8_t mainLineSwitch;
 
+  SdCardMountedIF& sdcMan;
+
   ActionHelper actionHelper;
 
+  /** Queue to receive messages from other objects. */
+  MessageQueueIF* commandQueue = nullptr;
+
   void readCommandQueue();
 
   /**