A linear ultrasonic motor using a notched cylindrical piezoelectric vibrator has been proposed and developed for a large thrust and a high energy efficiency. The vibrator consists of two pairs of piezoelectric ceramic elements, which are excited to generate the fifth-bending modes of the notched cylindrical pezoelectric vibrator in two orthogonal direction. The surface particles on the two disk-shaped parts move along an elliptical trajectory, which in turn acts on a contacted rail plate, and then the frictional forces drive the vibrator and its supporters into linear motion. The key dimensions of the piezoelectric vibrator are determined by finite element analysis (FEA) software ANSYS. The prototype has been manufactured and experimentally investigated. The performance achieved by the prototype are: (i) a maximum driving force of ～16.2N; (ii) a maximum linear speed of ～180 mm／s; (iii) a maximum energy efficiency of～38％; (iv) a response time of～24 ms; and (v) a step resolution of～2μm.