Helical rail glider launcher

The electromagnetic acceleration group at MIT has undertaken to build an electric glider launcher. The launcher features a mobile helical rail accelerator and power supply. It will launch a 6 foot radio-controlled glider for an overall range of several miles. This device is a prototype for a larger system that will provide a launch platform for munition and supply loaded gliders and a wide variety of RPV's. A 6 meter helical rail launcher has been constructed and is being tested. It is a twin boom device designed to accelerate a 5 kg glider to 100 m/s at 100 g's acceleration.