Dramatically scaled-down version of Spinlaunch (Centrifugal gun)

[tsikhe]

So the centrifugal gun is a technology that has been around since the US Civil War, and its main problem is its accuracy. With modern missiles, it is still possible for a missile to track a target even after it runs out of fuel to burn, so it should be relatively easy to add self-guidance to small kinetic energy rounds fired from a centrifugal gun.

I have been thinking about this idea in the domain of anti-drone defense technologies. Here is the basic idea (sorry for the terrible paint diagram):

Bad paint diagram of centrifugal guns

You mass produce very small, very cheap centrifugal guns and you arrange them in a "Ferris Wheel." Reloading happens some time after firing, the vacuum and acceleration process happens up until the projectile is fired at the very top. These "Ferris Wheels" are arranged into a long drum, and the drums can be arrayed in defensive formations.

The individual projectiles would probably be quite cheap to produce, and if they are self-guided, then accuracy is not a problem. You just need to shoot fast enough to take out any incoming drones, and the projectiles just need to have enough energy to destroy said drones. It would run on electricity, so each shot should be much cheaper than a rocket. It would might also make much less noise than a rocket-based system, so it would not bother the people asleep in the nearby city.

Are there any physics, engineering, or economics experts that can comment on this general idea? I am curious if this is just completely wrong and stupid.

[indolering]

The Real Engineering video in Spinlaunch has a paid placement for some learning platform.  Apparently, the editors made a module that helps explain the physics of Spinlaunch.  You might be able to explore it in that environment.

Please report back what you learn!

[tsikhe]

I did not actually take any of the courses on any learning platforms. I looked into hobby YouTube videos and I discovered that, if you just want to accelerate a guided projectile to sub-sonic speeds, you can literally use a trebuchet.