Abstract: A apparatus for sensing flow and/or other characteristics of a fluid, including an emitter adapted to project a light beam, a detector adapted to transmit a signal in response to receiving the light beam and a rotatable member for transmitting the beam of light from the emitter to the detector through a quantity of the fluid. Optic fibers/light pipes may be used to transmit light to the emitter from a light source, through the rotatable member and to a processor remote from the detector. The rotatable member may also include reflective and nonreflective zones for transmitting light passing through the fluid to the detector. A plurality of light pipes, blades, emitters and detectors may be used on the rotating member depending on a particular application of the present invention.