[JACK AYLMER]

A REVOLUTIONARY NEW WHEEL COULD BE A GAMECHANGER FOR THOSE WITH MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS. 

RESEARCHERS IN SOUTH KOREA HAVE COME UP WITH WHAT THEY CALL THE WORLD’S FIRST ‘MORPHING’ WHEEL.

THE TECHNOLOGY FUNCTIONS LIKE A RIGID WHEEL ON FLAT GROUND BUT TRANSFORMS INTO A FLEXIBLE FORM WHEN NAVIGATING STAIRS OR OTHER OBSTACLES.

DESIGNED TO MIMIC THE SURFACE TENSION OF WATER DROPLETS, THE WHEEL GOES FROM SOLID TO SPONGE-LIKE WHEN IT DETECTS HUMPS, BUMPS, CURBS OR STAIRS.

[SONG SUNG-HYUK]

“WHEN THE FORCE THAT PULLS THE OUTERMOST MOLECULES OF A LIQUID DROPLET INWARD INCREASES, THE DROPLET CAN MAINTAIN A STABLE CIRCULAR SHAPE. SIMILARLY, OUR WHEEL IS DESIGNED WITH A SMART CHAIN BLOCK ON THE OUTER EDGE, THE GREATER THE INWARD PULL ON THIS BLOCK, THE MORE STABLY IT MAINTAINS A ROUND SHAPE.”

[JACK AYLMER]

WHEN WIRE SPOKES STIFFEN THE CHAIN BLOCKS ARE PULLED INWARD AND THE WHEEL BECOMES HARD.

WHEN WIRE SPOKES ARE LOOSENED THE WHEEL BECOMES SOFT ENOUGH TO GRASP ONTO UNEVEN SURFACES.

THE TECH ISN’T JUST FOR WHEELCHAIRS.

THE INNOVATION MAY REPORTEDLY BE USED FOR A RANGE OF DEVICES EVENTUALLY.

FROM AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES DELIVERING FOOD OR GROCERIES TO ROBOTS IN THE BATTLEFIELD SPYING ON THE ENEMY.

THE TEAM OF RESEARCHERS ALSO HOPES TO USE THE SHAPESHIFTING WHEELS WITH TWO AND FOUR-LEGGED ROBOTS TO CARRY PAYLOADS NEEDING MORE STABILITY IN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS.

[SONG SUNG-HYUK]

“THIS MODULARIZED WHEEL CAN BE ATTACHED TO ANY MOBILE PLATFORM SIMPLY BY REPLACING EXISTING WHEELS. ONCE INSTALLED, THE WHEELS PROVIDE VARIABLE STIFFNESS, ADAPTING TO EACH APPLICATION. WE ARE CONTINUIOUSLY CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO OPTIMIZE THE WHEEL’S PERFORMANCE FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS.”

[JACK AYLMER]

RESEARCHERS SAY ONE OF THEIR ULTIMATE GOALS IS TO MAKE THE WHEEL CAPABLE OF TRAVELING UP TO 62 MILES PER HOUR.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.