Disclosed is a device comprising: a piezoelectric or ferroelectric substrate (2) on which ice is deposited; electrodes (3), connected to the substrate (2); a vector network analyser (7), connected to the electrodes (3) and configured to determine the resonant frequency of the substrate (2); and an excitation module including a function generator (6) that communicates with the vector network analyser (7) and is connected to an amplifier (4), the amplifier being connected to the electrodes (3). The excitation module is configured to apply to the electrodes (3), by means of an automatic switch (8), an AC electrical signal having a frequency coinciding with the resonant frequency measured in the vector network analyser (7) and which changes gradually as the ice melts.