Microwave resonator sensor spots ice-accumulation

The collaborative effort from the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan School of Engineering brought together one team that designs microwave sensors and microelectronics systems and another that investigates ice-repellent materials and extreme liquid repellency.

According to UBCO, the researchers aimed to develop a sensor that could detect the precise moment when ice begins to form on a surface. Due to their high sensitivity, low power, ease of fabrication, and planar profile, the team chose to use microwave resonators. The device will make it easier to detect and manage ice accumulation on aircraft, said Assistant Professor Kevin Golovin.

"The ice detection systems used today are quite rudimentary. For example, pilots visually detect ice on aircraft wings before de-icing in flight," Golovin said in a statement. "And on the tarmac, certifying that the aircraft is free of ice after de-icing is also done by visual inspection, which is susceptible to human error and environmental changes."

Planar microwave resonator sensors are mechanically robust, sensitive and easy to fabricate, said Assistant Professor Mohammad Zarifi, head of UBCO's Microelectronics and Advanced Sensors Laboratory.