South Korean Researchers Develop Morphing Wheel to Overcome Obstacles

A crew of researchers on the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) has developed an progressive ‘morphing’ wheel that adapts to varied terrains, providing potential options for mobility challenges. This expertise permits the wheel to beat obstacles as much as 1.3 occasions the peak of its radius, enabling clean navigation throughout kerbs, humps, and even staircases.

The wheel, designed with flexibility impressed by the floor rigidity of water droplets, transitions between stable and fluid states when encountering obstructions. Applications for the expertise vary from wheelchairs navigating uneven terrain to unmanned supply automobiles able to climbing stairs, making it a groundbreaking software for accessibility and automation. The crew additionally foresees its integration into robotics, notably for machines requiring steady motion in industrial settings.

Technology Overview and Testing

The morphing wheel’s design features a chain-like outer hoop and spoke wires related to a hub. A sensor system adjusts the stiffness of the spokes, enabling the wheel to adapt in actual time based mostly on terrain situations. Current testing has demonstrated its potential to sort out 18-cm stairs whereas carrying a life-size dummy in a wheelchair prototype. Devices outfitted with these wheels have additionally achieved speeds of as much as 30 km/h.

Dr Song Sung-hyuk, principal researcher at KIMM, acknowledged that efforts are underway to boost the wheel’s capabilities for speeds of as much as 100 km/h, akin to common automobiles. He highlighted that whereas comparable technologies like non-pneumatic tyres supply flexibility, they lack the obstacle-negotiating potential of the morphing wheel.

Potential Impact and Applications

The analysis crew envisions broad purposes for the morphing wheel. Two- and four-legged robots, typically hampered by restricted effectivity and vibration sensitivity, may gain advantage from this development. Industrial robots transporting payloads throughout uneven surfaces may additionally see important enhancements in stability and efficiency.

The morphing wheel gained recognition when featured as the duvet article of Science Robotics in August 2024. Its potential to reshape mobility applied sciences underscores ongoing efforts in innovation at KIMM. model>.embed-container { place: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; peak: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { place: absolute; prime: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; peak: 100%; }