Inspired by the surface tension of liquid droplets, scientists have created a novel movable wheel that modifies its form in real time, facilitating the smooth and uneven navigation of wheelchairs and mobile robots. Wheels are essential to automobiles, bikes, and trucks, but wheelchairs and robots have found it difficult to navigate beyond smooth, level terrain due to their wheels’ poor performance on uneven surfaces.
A group of Korean experts developed this innovative wheel design with a “smart chain structure” that adapts to the surface. The spokes of the wheel change length as the spacing between the central hub sides varies, enabling the wheel to transition from a circular shape for fast mobility to a more flexible form that can overcome obstacles. A four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled wheelchair that could climb steps and boulders 1.2 times higher than the wheel’s radius were both able to test the design successfully.
In light of the possibility that dust and other particles could harm the wheel, the researchers are developing a protective cover for upcoming iterations. They believe this versatile wheel has a lot of promise in various settings.
“This study demonstrates real-time stiffness variation at the scale of actual wheels used for a wheelchair, suggesting broader common applications in wheel-based robots and transportation systems for efficient driving on rough terrain,” the researchers said.
The study was published in the journal Science Robotics.
Source: EurekAlert!
