Ice accretion on commercial aircraft operating at high Reynolds numbers has been extensively
studied in the literature, but a direct transformation of these results to an Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV) operating at low Reynolds numbers is not straightforward. Changes in Reynolds
number have a significant impact on the ice accretion physics. Previously, only a few researchers
worked in this area, but it is now gaining more attention due to the increasing applications of UAVs
in the modern world. As a result, an attempt is made to review existing scientific knowledge and
identify the knowledge gaps in this field of research. Ice accretion can deteriorate the aerodynamic
performance, structural integrity, and aircraft stability, necessitating optimal ice mitigation techniques.
This paper provides a comprehensive review of ice accretion on fixed-wing UAVs. It includes various
methodologies for studying and comprehending the physics of ice accretion on UAVs. The impact of
various environmental and geometric factors on ice accretion physics is reviewed, and knowledge
gaps are identified. The pros and cons of various ice detection and mitigation techniques developed
for UAVs are also discussed
