Swan International "Ice-Eye" Could Be Used On Most Aircraft

Sydney-based Swan International recently earned a US patent related to development of an Inflight Ice Detection System, which would rely on optical technologies to sense ice accumulating on aircraft surfaces.

The company tells ANN the US Patent Office issued patent No. 7370525 for The Swan International, Dual Channel, Optical Detection technique. The Swan Ice Detection System -- known as "Ice-Eye" -- utilizes optical technologies developed as part of the company's Predictive Windshear Detection development.

The system detects ice accretion on the aircraft by monitoring ice formation on a reference surface using optical discrimination techniques. Ice responds optically in a different way depending upon the incident light wave polarization. This optical polarization response of ice differs significantly to that of water or other substances that may also be on the surface.

This high sensitivity sensor work by illuminating a small ice collecting window fixed in a sensor housing flush mounted on the tip of a heated sensor tube. The resulting backscattered light from the ice collecting surface is collected using polarization sensitive optical fibers. The detected light intensity for each fiber together with the intensity ratio indicates the presence of ice on the ice collecting surface.

The Swan Sensor performs the function of alerting the pilot to icing conditions, indicating the severity of such conditions and may activate the de-icing system. The company notes its system could be deployed on a wide variety of aircraft.

FMI: www.swaninter.com/