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Spinoff story
Energy-Efficient Systems Eliminate Icing Danger for UAVs
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
Ames Research Center engineer Leonard Haslim invented an anti-icing technology called an electro-expulsive separation system, which uses mechanical force to shatter potentially dangerous ice buildup on an aircraft surface. Temecula, California-based Ice Management Systems (now known as IMS-ESS) licensed the technology from Ames and has discovered a niche market for the lightweight, energy-efficient technology: unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). IMS-ESS systems now prevent damaging ice accumulation on military UAVs, allowing the vehicles to carry out crucial missions year round.