The Icefinder Consortium brings together cutting-edge international research, aviation expertise, and industrial development capabilities. The project partners are working together to develop an innovative sensor technology for early icing detection, from the scientific foundation through to practical application.
Villinger R&D GmbH
Project Coordination & Sensor Technology
Expert in de-icing technologies.
Expert in de-icing technologies.
AVIATION AVIONIC SERVICE GMBH
ECU & Embedded Software
Specialist in control systems.
Specialist in control systems.
ADSE B.V.
Consulting & Engineering
Engineering consultancy for Aerospace, Defence, Rail and Maritime
Engineering consultancy for Aerospace, Defence, Rail and Maritime
Stoney Brook University
Sciences & Testing
Scientific support and testing
Scientific support and testing
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
ICEFINDER PROJECT
The Icefinder project encompasses the research and development efforts of an international consortium aimed at developing an innovative method for the rapid and reliable detection of icing conditions on the structures of airplanes, helicopters, and UAVs.
Led by Villinger R&D GmbH, the project team—comprising experts in electronics, nanotechnology, and aviation—is working to validate the basic technological concept and demonstrate its functionality under realistic conditions.
Funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the project is laying the technological foundation for further development steps. The long-term goal is to create the conditions for future commercialization and industrial production of the technology and to enable its use in safety-critical aviation applications.
Project Objectives
A clear roadmap to market-ready sensor technology.
Detection reliability
100% accurate distinction between dry, wet, and icy conditions under all weather conditions.
Structural Integration
Development of a sensor design that can be integrated directly into components without compromising aerodynamics.
Certifiability
Compliance with the stringent DO-160 and DO-178 standards for use in civil aviation.
Market readiness
Reducing manufacturing costs to a level that allows for use in general aviation and UAVs as well.
