Research

AeroTex are highly active in the area of in-flight icing research. In particular, we are currently working on a number of FFG-funded projects, which are described below.

JOICE

JOICE, the Joint Austrian In-Flight Icing Research Venture 2020+, is the Austrian flagship R&D project in the field of aircraft icing and is publicly co-funded by the Federal Ministry of Austria for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) as part of the Austrian Aeronautics Programme TAKE OFF via the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). The technical activities in JOICE comprise the following:

• Advancement of icing wind tunnel infrastructure
• Execution of experiments in simulated icing conditions
• Numerical simulation – primarily with the aid of in-house codes – of icing, anti-icing and de-icing processes
• Development of ice protection systems (IPS), e.g. hybrid systems combining thermal and mechanical sub-systems as well as icephobic/superhydrophobic coatings
• Documentation of icing tests with the aid of high-resolution optical methods including roughness evaluations of ice surfaces
• Development of ice detection systems
• High precision polymer-based replicas of ice shapes; these replicas can be used for high-accuracy measurements of ice-induced aerodynamic effects in ordinary aerodynamic wind tunnels

AeroTex are leading the work package for numerical simulation. Further information on the project, which runs from October 2020 to September 2023, can be found here.

Project JOICE has received funding from the Federal Ministry of Austria for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) as part of the Austrian Aeronautics Programme TAKE OFF via the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) under grant agreement 881057.

PrISM

The PrISM project (Propeller Ice Shed Measurement) aims to develop an improved test capability for large-scale propellers at the RTA icing test facility, as well as developing test methods for energy measurement of shed ice and numerical simulation tools for ice accretion and shedding. AeroTex are leading the project, which runs from January 2022 to June 2024. Further information on the project can be found here.

Project PrISM has received funding from the Federal Ministry of Austria for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) as part of the Austrian Aeronautics Programme TAKE OFF via the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) under project number FO999886890.

All-weather Drone

All-weather Drone is a R&D project in which the effects of defined severe weather conditions (rain, snow and in-flight icing) on the operation of multicopters with 25 kg maximum take-off weight and the implications on performance and, hence, safety of flight are investigated. The international and multidisciplinary consortium consists of 10 organizations and is supported by an expert advisory board. As part of the project detection capabilities are developed for flight of multicopters in such weather conditions together with ice protection systems. Regulatory recommendations are derived from the project work to ensure that aviation authorities have a data-based framework in which to assess the risks associated with UAS operations in severe weather conditions. Additionally, market and industry relevant aspects are researched and incorporated into the project work to leverage the outcome.

Project All-weather Drone has received funding from the Federal Ministry of Austria for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) as part of the Austrian Aeronautics Programme TAKE OFF via the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) under project number FO999886807.