Thesis Description & Objectives
Aircraft wing de-icing is a critical safety procedure in winter operations, as even thin layers of ice or frost can severely compromise aerodynamic performance and flight safety. In real operational environments—characterized by low visibility, time pressure, and complex aircraft geometries—operators may experience difficulties in accurately identifying residual ice or areas that still require intervention. This thesis is part of a project funded by Regione Piemonte, in collaboration with companies specializing in drones and computer vision, aiming to develop an Augmented Reality (AR) system that enhances current de-icing workflows. The proposed solution will integrate drone-based imaging and vision algorithms developed by other partners to detect critical areas and visualize them in AR to support operator decision-making. The system will be collaboratively developed and experimentally evaluated together with SAGAT at Torino Caselle Airport. The thesis is addressed to students in Computer Engineering with a focus on graphics and interactive systems, as well as to students in Cinema Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. The thesis is meant to be developed at Politecnico di Torino with experiences on-field at the airport, though one of the involved companies could also be available to host the student.
