Researchers Are Trying To Reinvent the Wheel (reuters.com) 33
South Korean researchers have developed a "morphing" wheel that can navigate stairs and obstacles up to 1.3 times its radius, potentially revolutionizing mobility devices and robotics.
The wheel, created by the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), features a chain-based outer hoop and sensor-controlled spoke wires that adjust stiffness based on terrain. Inspired by water droplet mechanics, it transitions between solid and fluid states when encountering impediments.
The wheel, created by the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), features a chain-based outer hoop and sensor-controlled spoke wires that adjust stiffness based on terrain. Inspired by water droplet mechanics, it transitions between solid and fluid states when encountering impediments.
Mechanically unsound (Score:1)
They want, essentially, a wheel that acts like a flat tire. That constant flexing means energy lost to heat production, and mechanical wear reducing lifetime. I can't imagine they have found a way around that.
It also occurs to me that when you look at the gripping surface profile, it will end up not being much different from a decent tank tread or just more independent suspended wheels... Which wouldn't require fancy mechanics or electronic controls and would handle wear much better.
Re:Mechanically unsound (Score:4, Insightful)
Traction vs efficiency tradeoff is already something we deal with in pneumatic tires.
People who take their vehicles on off-road trails already "air down" their tires to improve traction on the trail and then "air up" (re-inflate) for the drive home.
The original Hummer had a whole "Central Tire Inflation System" for that purpose (https://www.lynchhummer.com/componentpages/CTI.html).
This new tire just can make the change much faster and apparently to a much greater degree. It's pretty neat imo. Which of the many many applications of traction wheels, if any, it becomes the economically ideal choice for, tbd.
Not really (Score:3, Informative)
It is more like a tire that can be inflated or flat and switch between those two states almost instantaneously and on demand.
Did you watch the video?
legs (Score:2)
The thing that they're looking for are called legs. Stairs were invented for them. Make something like legs and you don't have to reinvent the wheel.
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Except that these wheels are intended for mobility devices. Ie, wheelchairs. If your legs work, you don't need the wheelchairs, so...
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I load two people in wheelchairs into a single van on a regular basis. Putting a disabled person on a flight of stairs in some contraption is the wrong approach to the problem.
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You should take a look at the iBot [mobiusmobility.com]. It's a contraption, sure, but it's quite capable and safe for this purpose.
I'll admit that universal access - like actual working elevators everywhere - would be a better solution. On the other hand, an elevator's kind of a contraption, too.
Reminiscent of Rolligon tires (Score:5, Informative)
The product was invented by William Albee in 1951 after he had seen Inuit using inflated seal hides to drag a heavy boat on shore.[1][2] Because the weight of the vehicle is spread over a much larger surface compared to conventional tires, the pressure is much lower. This prevents the vehicle from getting stuck, and limits damage to vulnerable plants of the tundra.[3]
There is an amazing video demonstration [youtube.com] showing trucks outfitted with these comically-large tires traversing ravines, rolling over train tracks, and even running over people who would immediately get up and smile at the camera.
I see this as a more practical implementation of some of the same ideas.
Or just put monster truck wheels on everything (Score:2)
They don't seem to have any trouble trampling over small cars.
Don't reinvent YOUR FACE! (Score:2)
I've always liked reinventing the wheel, and I've always liked people who are willing to do it. There are a lot of different kinds of wheel. You need to understand wheels on a deep, intuitive level to understand which one is best for your application. The only way to develop that sense is through reinvention.
I'm no wheel salesman, though.
Looks a lot like a track (Score:2)
As in tank tracks.
Yes, it has the form factor of a round wheel, but the outside is basically a continuous track, just like in tanks. They deform to match uneven terrain, just like this one.
The only real difference between existing tracked wheelchairs (https://actiontrackchair.com/ and https://trackmastermobility.co... [trackmastermobility.com] ) is a smaller form factor designed to work indoors rather than outdoors.
Re: (Score:2)
From the video demonstration, and also the description of the theory of operation, it actually looks like it's fail-safe from an electric point of view in that it would either stop adjusting stiffness or possibly it would go to its softest state, but its actual function as a wheel is purely mechanical.
Obligatory Futurama (Score:2)
Fry: In my time we had a way of moving things long distances without hovering! ... let me think. It was really famous -- Ruth Gordon had one. The wheel!
Hermes: Impossible!
Fry: It was called
Leela: Never heard of it
Professor Farnsworth: Show us this "The Wheel"!
Stairs?! Noooooo! (Score:2)
Obligatory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
wat (Score:2)
"The goal is to make this viable for speed up to 100 kph, or the speed of an average car"
Uh, no. The average car will do 160kph or more for hours on end, and it's very normal for them to be operated at speeds of about 120kph, at least for short periods.
But also, the average car has absolutely no need for this functionality. Even if it had it, it still couldn't make use of it, because it doesn't have enough ground clearance.
Nothing on-road needs this technology, so the speed of the average car is irrelevant.
Re: (Score:2)
"The goal is to make this viable for speed up to 100 kph, or the speed of an average car"
Uh, no. The average car will do 160kph or more for hours on end, and it's very normal for them to be operated at speeds of about 120kph, at least for short periods.
But also, the average car has absolutely no need for this functionality. Even if it had it, it still couldn't make use of it, because it doesn't have enough ground clearance.
Nothing on-road needs this technology, so the speed of the average car is irrelevant. As long as they will work for your average skid steer or side by side (even the latter of which is rarely operated over 80kph) you will be able to cover the useful market.
Imagine being able to go at that speed without the need for a road? Oh, wait, we can already do that with treads, and there are a lot of farm oriented implements using rubber treads this days instead of wheels, for this very reason. Oh well, I'm sure grandma's speedy new wheelchair will be rad with flames on the side!
Re: (Score:2)
"Uh, no. The average car will do 160kph or more for hours on end, and it's very normal for them to be operated at speeds of about 120kph, at least for short periods."
It depends where you live, but doing 160kph may attract the attention of law enforcement. Or at least a bill in the mail.
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It depends where you live, but doing 160kph may attract the attention of law enforcement. Or at least a bill in the mail.
Yes, but the cars will do it. It's pretty rare for a vehicle to be sold with tires that will support less than that any more, for that matter.
Smartwheels (Score:5, Interesting)
Reminds me of Y.T.'s skateboard in Snowcrash
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Obligatory Neal Stephenso Quotes: (Score:4, Interesting)
"Buy a set of RadiKS Mark II Smartwheels—it’s cheaper than a total face retread and a lot more fun. Smartwheels use sonar, laser rangefinding, and millimeter-wave radar to identify mufflers and other debris before you even get honed about them."
- Snow Crash
"I was just watching the smart whells and remembring an advertisement from my youth,"
- Diamond Age
What about mud and sticky stuff? (Score:1)
Neal (not Cowboy!) (Score:4, Informative)
Anyone else remember Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash? (I think?)
One of the characters had a skateboard whose wheels would dynamically adjust to smoothly go over obstacles.
More gilding the lily than reinventing the wheel. (Score:2)
Niche is not revolutionizing (Score:2)
A wheel like that would be a niche thing, like when Michelin reinvented the wheel eg see here https://www.designboom.com/tec... [designboom.com]
It's very nice to reinvent basic things, like the wheel or warm water, but it doesn't mean it will revolutionize what is out there. It will likely become a niche thing which means most of the market is unaffected.
Ride, comfort and dissonance (Score:2)
Those be the far bigger tech goals than an obstacle course,
Even FSD for all its Ai-ness, remains a corner case. But ride quality? that 100% utility grade tech has no solution set beyond wire coils and hydraulic absorber tech from the 30s. EVs need it with their much heavier batteries, increased g-forces on occupants and altered vehicle handling mechanics. I love FSD .vs. cruise control and FSD will make highways safer, more enjoyable immediately.
New wheels, trick, fancy and obstacle agnostic enhancements ma
Whatever you do ... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Exactly what I was thinking.