Russian Scientists Develop Smart Anti-Icing System for Aircraft
A new self-monitoring coating can detect and remove ice buildup on an aircraft’s surface—making flights safer and maintenance more efficient.
Researchers at Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNRPU) have created an intelligent anti-icing coating that automatically detects, removes, and monitors ice on aircraft fuselages. The innovation addresses one of aviation’s most dangerous conditions—“glassy” ice formation, which occurs between 0°C and –10°C and is nearly invisible but extremely strong.
Traditional de-icing methods, such as heaters or chemical sprays, are energy-intensive and unreliable. Piezoelectric systems—using vibrations to break up ice—are more efficient but often too weak. The Perm team improved on this approach by integrating two interacting subsystems of IDE electrodes that not only break through ice layers up to 5 millimeters thick but also diagnose their own performance in real time.
Built-In Intelligence
According to Andrey Pankov, professor of Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures at PNRPU, the system’s core strength lies in its intelligence.
The university has already patented the technology, which could redefine aircraft safety standards and be applied to other industries where icing poses operational risks, such as wind energy or aerospace engineering.
