Abstract
Introduction. Electromechanical Coilgun launcher provide safe, stable, and reliable launches of massive, low-impact objects, featuring process control and rapid restarts, making them particularly suitable for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Problem. The Coilgun launcher uses capacitive energy storage (CES) as power source, charged to high-voltage direct current, and low-voltage alternating current sources (ACS). Energy is supplied to the armature magnetically from the stator coil or electrodynamically from the power source via flexible or sliding current leads. Each of these methods of supplying energy to the moving armature and each source has its own advantages and disadvantages, which dictates the choice of which method to use to maximize the Coilgun’s efficiency. Goal. Justification of the parameters of the Coilgun launcher to increase its efficiency when using a high-voltage capacitive energy storage device and a low-voltage alternating voltage source with magnetic-inductive and electrodynamic energy supply to the armature. Methodology. A mathematical model of Coilgun launcher has been developed that takes into account the interconnected electrical, magnetic, mechanical, and thermal processes that occur when connecting the inductor and armature windings to the CES and the ACS. Results. The nature of the electromechanical processes of the Coilgun launcher has been established when powered by a high-voltage CES and a low-voltage ACS, in which energy is supplied to the armature winding magnetically-inductively and electrodynamically. Scientific novelty. When using the CES, a Coilgun launcher with magnetic-inductive energy supply to the armature provides higher starting speed, while when using the ACS, a Coilgun launcher with electrodynamic energy supply to the armature provides higher starting speed. When using the CES, the Coilgun launcher with magnetic-inductive energy supply to the armature achieves a starting speed of approximately 8 m/s, while with electrodynamic energy supply, it achieves a starting speed of approximately 4 m/s. Practical value. Using a model Coilgun launcher that enables the launch of a UAV prototype, it was shown that the experimental and calculated electrical parameters (voltage and excitation current) correlate with an accuracy of up to 5 %, and the mechanical parameters (speed and displacement) correlate with an accuracy of up to 12 %. References 53, figures 8.