Application
Linear motor launch systems
Motor sizing for coasters, dark rides, test sleds and industrial launches—from the required speed profile to the electrical and thermal duty.
Define the launch
A linear induction motor accelerates the vehicle across an air gap, without relying on wheel grip. Specify entry speed, target exit speed, launch length and the allowed acceleration profile together.
The duty may also include low-speed station moves, steady dark-ride sections and the hand-off into coasting. These operating points belong in the specification, not just the launch peak.
What sets the motor rating?
- Load and trajectory: vehicle mass, speed, acceleration, gradients and launch distance.
- Repetition: firing rate and recovery time determine whether motor and plate heat accumulates.
- Electrical demand: a short launch can require high peak current and power even when average demand is modest. Match the drive, site supply and any energy storage to the same duty.
- Installation: compare single- and double-sided layouts, running gap and available space.
Different launches, different priorities
| Application | Main considerations |
|---|---|
| Coasters and dark rides | Launch acceleration, station moves, show speeds and repeated-cycle heating. |
| Test and catapult sleds | Exit speed, track length, peak thrust and firing rate. |
| UAV and aircraft launch | Controlled acceleration and release-speed hand-off. |
| Industrial transfers | Throughput, load variation and repeated launch-and-transfer moves. |
What Axis supplies
Axis designs and supplies the motor and can specify its drive requirements. We model the launch profile and thermal duty, recording the assumptions and operating limits.
Vehicle, track, restraints and ride or machine controls remain with you or your integrator.
Have a launch profile to meet?
Send the mass, entry and exit speeds, launch length and cycle time.