Vectoflow

Vectoflow is an industry-leading developer of flow measurement technologies and air data systems for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). With over a decade of experience and a wealth of deep engineering expertise, we design, manufacture and calibrate all of our products in-house at our state-of-the-art facilities in Germany.

In addition to providing COTS products, we also utilize advanced additive manufacturing to create custom probe geometries, mounting solutions, and interface options with fast turnaround times.

Modular Air Data Solutions

Our 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, our products are tested according to RTCA DO-160 and compliant with FAA-relevant requirements.

Air Data Probes

Our 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.

VectoADP Beak

• Boom-mounted air data probe
• Measures airspeed, angle of attack, and sideslip in undisturbed flow conditions
• Integrated heater for anti-icing/deicing

VectoADP Wing

• Fuselage-mounted air data probe
• Airspeed, altitude, and flow angle measurement with optional aerodynamic compensation
• Integrated heater for anti-icing/deicing

VectoTAT

• Fuselage-mounted Total Air Temperature (TAT) probe
• Integrated processing unit
• MIL-spec connector

Air Data Boom System

• Designed for nose mounting
• Compatible with various probe types
• Enables extension up to 280 mm with single piece & can be combined

Smart Air Data Systems

Our 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.

• 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

iProbe Wing

• All-in-one air data probe with integrated ADC
• Measures real-time airspeed, altitude, temperature, pressure, and humidity
• Customizable probe head geometry, main body shape, mounting configuration, and heater setup

Air Data Computers

Our 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.

Kiel Pressure Probes

Designed with a uniquely optimized inlet geometry, our 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

Our 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.

High-Temperature Probes

We 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°

Pitot Probes

Our pitot and Prandtl probes feature a one-piece solid construction, and are available in L-shaped, straight, cobra, or drilled elbow geometries. Material options include titanium, Inconel, regular or high-temperature stainless steel, and more.

The probes can be manufactured in a range of lengths and with tip diameters as low as 0.5 mm.

Multi-Hole Probes

We can provide custom multi-hole probes for high-precision measurement of a variety of aerodynamic and thermodynamic parameters that are essential for effective UAV flight, including angle of attack, speed, static and total pressure, and total temperature.

Our advanced additive manufacturing capabilities allow us to create probes with virtually any required geometry, length or tip diameter. We can also calibrate the finished product to your specific requirements, and provide associated data acquisition systems and software.

Omniprobes

Our 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 our 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 our post-processing libraries or VectoVis Pro software.