Advanced Diagnostic and Forecast System of Icing Conditions for UAV Operational Safety

The increasing use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) across various sectors underscores the necessity for thorough testing under diverse meteorological conditions to ensure operational safety and reliability. The IFIRE project, led by AIRlabs Austria in collaboration with Pegasus Research & Development GmbH, Graz University of Technology, and FH JOANNEUM, addresses this important challenge by focusing on assessing UAV performance in adverse weather conditions, particularly in relation to icing.

The primary objective of the project is to enhance aviation safety and efficiency by integrating advanced weather diagnostic and forecasting capabilities into UAV operations. A comprehensive methodology is proposed, which includes developing a sophisticated weather forecast model, machine learning approaches, conducting flight tests to collect critical data, and evaluating natural icing conditions at the Steinalpl test site in Austria. IFIRE aims to establish new safety and reliability benchmarks for UAVs by creating a state-of-the-art flight-testing area specifically designed for natural icing conditions. The multidisciplinary consortium brings together technical, regulatory, environmental, and operational expertise to address the challenges of UAV testing in icy environments. Information on the initial phase of the project and future steps will be presented.