The cybernetics of inertial propulsion

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a study of inertial propulsion. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the theory of inertial propulsion under dry friction and under viscous friction is developed. Findings As inertia propelled devices do not have any external moving parts; the propelling mechanism is completely enclosed inside the device. For inertial propulsion under dry friction, the equations of movement are explicitly derived and provided in closed form, so that such a device can be designed with its parameters computed exactly. For inertial propulsion under viscous friction, on the other hand, there is no closed form for the equations of movement, its dynamics are provided so that a device can be designed using a computer algebra system, as illustrated in the paper. Originality/value The paper demonstrates that an inertia propelled device under dry friction moves in the opposite direction than the same device under viscous friction.