This paper investigates the unidirectional motion of an object forced to move on the ground due to an attached inertial drive which comprises counter-rotating eccentric masses on the horizontal plane. The study deals with the case in which the motion is generated by motors rotating at high speed, preferably constant. This inertial propulsion eventually enables the body to travel a limited maximum distance, which was found to be proportional to the square of the motor speed and inversely proportional to the coefficient of sliding (kinetic) friction. Other significant parameters such as the ratio of rotating masses over the object mass, as well as the initial position of these masses when the object is released to move and the magnitude of eccentricity, are discussed. The simulation is based on the combination of analytical formulas with the numerical solution of Single-DOF nonlinear ordinary differential equations for the unidirectional motion of the object to which the rotating masses are attached.

inertial propulsion, Synchronization, Dean drive, friction