If the invention of the wheel dates back several millennia, to around – 4000 BC, the 2024 version is of a completely new kind. The study, published on August 14 in the journal Science Roboticsreveals a wheel capable of adjusting according to the obstacles it encounters, which greatly facilitates its operation.
The “morphing wheel”, a chameleon of movement
Scientists from the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) started from a problem: robot wheels do not adapt sufficiently to their environment, making overcoming obstacles more difficult. It was therefore necessary to find a way to make the wheel flexible so that it would conform to the shapes, while maintaining its firmness.
To overcome this difficulty, researchers have developed an innovative wheel with adjustable rigidity, capable of adapting in real time to different types of terrain. This technology of “ morphing wheel » allows the wheel to take a rigid shape on flat surfaces and to become more flexible and deformable when it encounters an obstacle.
Inspired by the surface tension of a drop of water, in other words its fluidity, this wheel transforms to offer unprecedented mobility on varied terrains. “It is possible to overcome the obstacles that constituted the limits of the wheels, while maintaining high efficiency of movement” explains Song Sung-hyuk, senior researcher at KIMM, in a press release.
How does it work?
The heart of the wheel rests on a structure composed of a chain surrounding the exterior of the wheel, connected to a central hub by a system of spokes. A bit like those on a bicycle, except they can fold. These spokes, whose tension can be adjusted in real time, allow the stiffness of the wheel to be modified depending on the terrain conditions.
When a wheel encounters an obstacle, the system instantly adjusts the spoke tension to make the wheel more flexible, allowing it to overcome obstacles higher than its spoke. On the other hand, on flat surfaces, the wheel regains its original rigidity, thus optimizing speed and stability. This adaptability is controlled by sensors which detect variations in the terrain.
This is not the first time that the South Koreans have worked on restructuring the wheel. Since 2013, scientists at Seoul National University have been developing an all-terrain prototype. Its structure is reminiscent of the Japanese art of folding, origami. As with the honeycomb wheel, it knows how to adapt while remaining firm.
A multi-purpose wheel
Initially designed for robots, the wheel was also tested on wheelchairs. The prototype tested by the researchers allowed an armchair to climb steps 18 cm high, which thus offers an innovative solution for urban travel. It would allow people with reduced mobility to overcome obstacles such as stairs or sidewalks without difficulty.
Scientists have also tried their hand at all-terrain vehicles, with success. And they go even further: “The goal is to make this viable for speeds up to 100 km/h, which is the speed of an average car,” says Song Sung-hyuk, senior researcher at KIMM via Reuters.
But there remains a shadow on the board. During the testing phases, engineers realized that small particles were getting between the links of the chain. To overcome this, the idea would therefore be to add a structure encompassing the wheel to prevent this infiltration.
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