A position sensor assembly for determining the absolute angular position of a motor vehicle steering wheel includes a housing, an input gear driven by a rotary input, and a pickup gear coupled to the input gear. A cam having a spiroidal profile is generated about the rotational axis of the input gear and is rotatable with the input gear. A cam follower is coupled with the housing and engages the spiroidal profile, wherein rotation of the spiroidal profile as the input gear turns causes the cam follower to move along the spiroidal profile. A first sensor is associated with the pickup gear such that rotation of the pickup gear provides an output signal from the first sensor. A second sensor is associated with the cam follower such that motion of the cam follower produces an output signal from the second sensor. A processor receives output signals from the first and second sensors to produce a signal proportional to the angular position of the input gear.