NEW DESIGN OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC LAUNCH SYSTEM FOR TACTICAL UAVS

UAVs in recent times have achieved an increased rate of development, and hence, can cover a large spectrum of missions. Based on the dimensions, we can find UAVs from large dimensions used to operate at the global level through mini UAVs used inside buildings. The large UAVs are operated almost like a manned aircraft. For this reason, it uses the airport infrastructure and a runway for take-off and landing. The mini UAVs can be launched by hand. Between these two extremes, there is a category of UAVs used at the tactical level, which cannot be launched by hand and is not possible to build a runaway. These UAVs are launched using RATO (rocket-assisted take-off) or catapults. To improve the launch system, this should have a few moving parts to reduce maintenance costs and be powered by electric energy to be easily integrated into the automatic control loop. This paper presents a new design of a launch catapult based on electromagnetic energy for tactical UAVs. This technology is under development to launch projectiles with high velocity; however, it has theoretically proved the possibility to equally launch UAVs. The second part presents the theoretical approach necessary to find the expression of force under certain approximation for electromagnetic launch system design.