I guess that generating movement is harder then keeping a wheel rolling, but in terms of power consumption is it possible to compare the power consumption of a motor for driving wheels to that of a circuit that charges a capacitor and powers a solenoid? Running on high voltage solenoids can be very fast and powerful, and also pneumatic cylinders can be very fast.
Let's say we talk about a 5g ball that is shot at a speed of 10m/s.
Will the preferred motor be different for different weights and speeds? E.g. will an actuator be the choice for heavy and slow situation? Why?