The SMARTERSHIELD project contributed to eliminate the hazards associated with the existence of ice on a lifting or stabilising surface. The ice accretion increases the aircraft weight, which combined with the reduction of lift, can imply an important increase of the necessary energy to lift the aircraft. SMARTERSHIELD will consider all the possible innovative technologies and concepts that could be useful to accomplish a high efficient new smart erosion shield.

Once the ice accretion is produced, the ice morphology can be determined by analysing its crystalline structure by means of a microscope and by determining its thickness (e.g. by calculating the increasing of weight). The de-icing capacity of the SMARTERSHIELD system was experimentally evaluated by using testing machines or by actuating the system if it is self actuated, all this in a thermal and hygroscopic controlled environment to properly reproduce realistic icing conditions during the test. To maximise the deformation of the leading edge metallic skin (also named "erosion shield"), SMARTERSHIELD minimised the efforts generated by the mechanical actuators, and provide at the same time capabilities to control the geometry of the deformations, it investigated from actuator technologies and materials through structural and material design, using engineering tools such as e.g. Finite Element Analysis.