Aircraft airflow sensor probe and process of implementing an aircraft sensor probe

An aircraft airflow sensor probe comprising:

• an airflow assembly configured to sense a direction of local airflow outside an aircraft;
• a shaft configured to rotatably hold the airflow assembly and allow rotational movement of the airflow assembly;
• a motor connected to the shaft and configured to generate a torque to damp the rotational movement of the shaft as well as the airflow assembly;
• an angle of attack processor configured to control the motor to generate the torque to damp the rotational movement of the shaft as well as the airflow assembly;
• and
• a sensor configured to sense a position of the airflow assembly and provide the position of the airflow assembly to the angle of attack processor,
• wherein the airflow assembly comprises one of the following:
• a vane assembly configured to sense a direction of local airflow outside an aircraft and a cone assembly configured to sense a direction of local airflow outside an aircraft;
• wherein the angle of attack processor is configured to receive aircraft configuration data from the aircraft;
• and
• wherein the angle of attack processor is further configured to control the motor to generate the torque to damp the rotational movement of the shaft as well as the airflow assembly in response to the aircraft configuration data.

A process of operating an aircraft airflow sensor probe comprising:

• sensing a direction of local airflow outside an aircraft with an airflow assembly;
• allowing rotational movement of the airflow assembly with a shaft configured to rotatably hold the airflow assembly;
• generating a torque to damp the rotational movement of the shaft as well as the airflow assembly with a motor connected to the shaft;
• controlling the motor to generate the torque to damp the rotational movement of the shaft as well as the airflow assembly with an angle of attack processor based on at least one of the following:
• a static air pressure, an airflow velocity, a pressure differential between an upper side of the airflow assembly and a lower side of the airflow assembly, a rate of change of a position of the airflow assembly, a position of the airflow assembly, or an ambient temperature;
• and
• sensing a position of the airflow assembly and providing the position of the airflow assembly to the angle of attack processor with a sensor,
• wherein the airflow assembly comprises one of the following:
• a vane assembly configured to sense a direction of local airflow outside an aircraft and a cone assembly configured to sense a direction of local airflow outside an aircraft.