2nd International Workshop on Icing of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles

In-flight icing of UAVs is a meteorological risk that endangers UAVs and prevents safe operations in cold weather. UAV icing is an emerging research field where Norway is a key stakeholder – both because due to the cold climate UAV operations are often affected by icing, and also because Norway is leading on the topic in research (e.g. NTNU UAV Icing Lab, Met.no, UiT), industry (e.g. UBIQ Aerospace, Maritime Robotics, Avinor, Kjeller Vindtekknik), and defense (e.g. FFI). The 2nd International UAV Icing Workshop has positioned itself as the key networking and dissemination event for the topic of atmospheric icing on UAVs.The 2nd International UAV Icing Workshop is innovative in its focused approach on the emerging and crucial field of UAV icing. Distinctive for its specialized subject matter, the event bridges gaps between advanced technological fields like nanotechnology, advanced materials, and ICT with practical UAV applications. This event aligns with several key enabling technologies, which play critical roles in solving the icing challenge for UAVs. First and foremost, autonomy and control topics from the area of ICT are inherently linked with drone technologies. This relates for example to the development of smart algorithms for ice detection, digital twins for icing simulations and risk assessment, AI systems for autopilots and more. Furthermore, the field has a strong component related to nano-technology for the development of novel and innovative ice protection systems (e.g. usage of nano-carbon fiber paint for ice protection systems. Last but not least the area of icephobic materials – materials which passively reduce icing hazards by modifying the surface structure, similar to the Lotus-effect with water – is a field of advanced materials and nanotechnology. As such, this event and the stakeholders participating in it are going to contribute substantially to drive forward and generate cross-sectioral knowledge and innovation in these areas.