Flow Measurement Solutions & Air Data Systems for UAVs

Vectoflow is an industry-leading developer of flow measurement technologies and air data systems for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).

As a continued partner, UST is highlighting the company’s unique solutions via the Vectoflow supplier profile. The company’s products are designed, manufactured and calibrated in-house at state-of-the-art facilities in Germany, and in addition to the COTS range, they can also provide custom probe geometries, mounting solutions, and interface options with fast turnaround times.

Read on to find out more:

Vectoflow’s portfolio of high-performance air data acquisition products provides solutions that can be tailored to your exact UAV platform requirements, whether you need a single probe or a complete measurement system. Constructed from robust and lightweight materials, all products are tested according to RTCA DO-160 and compliant with FAA-relevant requirements.

Air data probes deliver precise measurements of velocity, altitude and both dynamic and static pressure, and can be mounted on the nose, wing or fuselage of a variety of UAV platforms. They are available as pitot-static or multi-hole designs, with options for heated or non-heated designs.

Smart air data systems feature lightweight materials with integrated sensors and processing, providing a complete measurement package. Delivering accurate airspeed, altitude, temperature, pressure (total and static), and humidity, they are ideal for research UAVs where clean flow measurement is required.
Features include:

• Integrated heating element to prevent icing and moisture blockage
• Integrated drainage for total pressure port
• Dual pressure sensor ranges for low- and high-speed accuracy on request
• Embedded Air Data Computer for real-time aerodynamic corrections
• Humidity and temperature sensors embedded in probe head
• Customizable probe head geometry, main body shape, mounting configuration, and heater setup

Vectoflow’s compact air data computers process pressure and temperature data from multifunctional air data probes and output accurate parameters for use by UAV autopilots and flight controllers.

Three models are available:

Kite ADC – a compact and lightweight system for space-limited UAV and light aircraft missions
Falcon ADC – a compact unit with external heater support for reliable low-temperature operation
Eagle ADC – Vectoflow’s flagship, RTCA DO-160G-compliant computer for precise measurements in demanding aerospace environments

Designed with a uniquely optimized inlet geometry, Kiel pressure probes can precisely measure total pressure and total temperature at angles of attack of up to 60°.

The probes can be provided as single units or as part of a probe rake, and can be manufactured with a variety of lengths and with diameters as low as 1.6 mm.

Kiel temperature probes can precisely capture total temperature at angles of attack of up to 50°, and are available with a variety of thermocouple and resistance sensor options.

The probes can be provided as single units or as part of a probe rake, and can be manufactured with a variety of lengths and with diameters as low as 1.65 mm.

Vectoflow can create customized high-temperature probes that can capture data at up to 1800 °C. Manufactured using cutting-edge additive manufacturing processes, these solutions offer high levels of geometric flexibility and excellent mechanical properties.

Options include:

• 3-, 4-, 5-, 7- and 14-hole probes
• Pitot, Prandtl, Preston and Kiel probes
• Ceramic, Inconel, high-temperature stainless steel
• Speed measurement range of Mach 0.012 (4 m/s ISA) – Mach 0.99 (337 m/s ISA)
• Angle measurement range of up to ± 70°

14-hole Omniprobes are designed for applications where angle of flow is unknown or where backflow is to be expected. They can measure angles of attack up to ±160°, as well as a range of other parameters including speed and static and total pressure.

Omniprobes are available with straight or L-shaped geometries, and can be manufactured from a variety of materials including stainless steel, titanium, Inconel, plastic, aluminum and more. All probes are expertly calibrated in purpose-built wind tunnels, and calibrated data is provided to the customer along with a binary file that can be used to evaluate the measurement data with Vectoflow’s post-processing libraries or VectoVis Pro software.

To find out more about Vectoflow’s flow measurement technologies and air data systems for UAVs, visit the company’s profile page:
https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/company/vectoflow/