Cars and planes could avoid hazardous ice, freezing rain with new sensors
Icy weather can turn routine travel into a high-risk gamble. On roads, ice causes about 20% of weather-related car crashes each year. In the sky, ice buildup contributes to roughly 10% of fatal air carrier crashes by disrupting aerodynamics and flight controls. A University of Michigan team now says a paired sensor system could give pilots, drivers and automated safety systems earlier warning. Nilton Renno, a University of Michigan professor of climate and space sciences and engineering, led the work with support from the National Science Foundation. Renno is also a professor of aerospace engineering and a pilot. His team reports the results in the journal Nature Scientific Reports after testing the sensors in a single-engine airplane and a light business jet equipped with scientific reference instruments. “More people are traveling by plane each year, and there’s more pressure to fly in all weather conditions,” Renno said. “Our technology can help airplanes, drones, cars and trucks be as safe and efficient as possible.” Recent crashes show what can happen when ice wins the race against …
