Wheels are so common in our daily lives that we often don’t even notice their presence. But for wheelchair users, moving on uneven ground is a major challenge. While wheels work efficiently on flat roads, their performance decreases on rough terrain or high obstacles. The same is true for mobile robots operating in difficult terrain. To solve such problems, the Korean research team “Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials” has developed a wheel that can instantly change shape and adapt to terrain conditions.
The technology is inspired by the surface tension of a drop of liquid. Surface tension is caused by the forces of attraction between liquid molecules. A drop of liquid takes on a circular shape due to the tension on its surface, and these tension forces ensure that the shape of the drop is maintained. Inspired by the same principle, the researchers designed a system that changes the structure of the wheel to adapt to obstacles in the terrain. The outer part of the wheel can change shape through wire connections with a central hub. When the hub is widened, the wheel retains its circular shape; but when it is narrowed, the wheel opens outwards, providing better grip on uneven surfaces.
Wheelchair Users will no Longer be Limited
Inspired by surface tension, researchers have created a shape-shifting wheel design that can overcome uneven surfaces and high obstacles. This new design could be revolutionary, especially for mobile robots and wheelchairs. While obstacles often encountered in off-road conditions limit the mobility of wheeled vehicles, this new wheel design eliminates these limitations.
This new wheel has been tested not only on wheelchairs, but also on four-wheeled vehicles. The experiments showed that the wheel could easily pass over obstacles 1.2 times its radius. Tests, especially on rough, grassy terrain, proved the performance of this innovative wheel.
Test Drives Started
Although similar projects have been worked on in the past, this new technology makes the wheels more dynamic and flexible. Adjustable stiffness and the ability to change shape make it possible for wheeled systems to move more efficiently on all types of ground. This expands the reach of wheeled vehicles and makes life easier for users. We have also shared the PaTS-Wheel design developed for a similar purpose. We recommend you to review that news as well.
