| Abstract: | A railgun is an electromagnetic accelerator that launches metallic or plasma projectiles using electromagnetic force. This idea is based upon the principles of the autoloader. The autoloader allows for continuous shots of projectiles through the electromagnetic railgun and consists of two components, the projectile storage, and the loading mechanism portion. The projectiles are spring-fed in front of the loading mechanism. The loading mechanism will use a linear actuator to insert the projectile directly into the railgun. The autoloader will have the capability to detect if a projectile is loaded inside of the railgun. This will be done in the form of a continuity check using the gun's rails. An open-loop shown will represent the railgun unloaded, while a close loop will represent the railgun loaded. If there is a projectile already loaded inside the railgun, it will not allow the user to load another projectile. This was implemented for safety to make sure there is no accidental firing, as well as making sure the railgun will not be double-loaded. The autoloader is a quicker, more reliable method of loading when it comes to therefore producing more speed, reliability, and consistency |