I have my comp sci student team working away on the embedded systems for my suit and props and would be happy to help with ideas if you would like. I am not sure exactly what you are trying to get, maybe you are looking for a 70milliAmp charge level out of a compact electrical system? If you give me more details on the specs you are looking at I can definitely get you some answers.
The props we are planning are to be outfitted with arduino nanos, speaker, lights, ammo counter, RF signal, laser pointer diode, and bluetooth connectivity. Which looks to be quite similar to the components you are looking to set up here. We are planning to power the system with small, lipstick size 5V power supplies. Because the current draw is so low there is not actually a ton of capacity required so those power supplies have some pretty serious lasting power (and the guns should only be powered on and functional when un-holstered, thus saving battery power). Here's the power cell we are testing with
USB Battery Pack.
Hey, I'll consider any suggestions! I need the charging lever (bolt handle) to move the entire length of its slot, which measures about 70mm.
1) Ready-built solenoid can't work because the travel distance is proportionally small relative to its coil length. I'd need a huge solenoid to actuate 70mm.
2) Custom sequential coil system I haven't totally counted out yet but would suck a lot of power and likely require a bank of capacitors and IGBTs to operate, assuming 14V would even produce enough magnetic flux since a voltage multiplier A) slows charge time and B) probably isn't con-safe, and I don't know if the capacitors could recharge fast enough to actually complete the entire reciprocating motion on time, or start the next one quickly enough- given that I can't just dump 10A or whatever into them from lithium batteries, it seems unlikely.
3) DC motor is a pain to try to use for linear motion, so just no.
4) Servos, even high-speed ones, are too slow to be able to move that much linear distance in the prescribed time (maybe milliseconds?) without a really long swing arm, which is impractical.
5) Pneumatics is the most obvious option, but it's out, I want a single, simple, con-safe electrical system.
6) Linear motors (actual linear induction motors) are an option, but I'd probably have to custom wind one and then use a signal generator (a dedicated Arduino, maybe) to drive it. It'd be cool and I could drive it at any speed I wanted based on signal frequency, but I'd prefer a simpler solution.
I think that's it. Seems like a stepper with a belt and some microswitches might be the best option, if there's one I can drive at crazy speeds (I'm not actually sure there is, now I think about it). It may be a case of scratch building an AC linear induction motor (maglev!)
So yeah, any ideas I've missed, I'm all ears!
Those mini USB power supplies are basically just a couple rolled up lithium sheet cells in a rectangle with a voltage regulator and current limiter on the end... So essentially, the same as my system but with extra packaging bulk and slightly less convenient charging. Probably handy for testing purposes! I guess you have to make sure all your systems are 5V though.