South Korean Researchers Develop Morphing Wheel to Overcome Obstacles

A staff of researchers on the Korea Institute of Equipment and Supplies (KIMM) has developed an modern ‘morphing’ wheel that adapts to numerous 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 stress of water droplets, transitions between stable and fluid states when encountering obstructions. Functions for the expertise vary from wheelchairs navigating uneven terrain to unmanned supply automobiles able to climbing stairs, making it a groundbreaking device for accessibility and automation. The staff additionally foresees its integration into robotics, notably for machines requiring secure motion in industrial settings.

Expertise Overview and Testing

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

Dr Tune Sung-hyuk, principal researcher at KIMM, said that efforts are underway to reinforce the wheel’s capabilities for speeds of as much as 100 km/h, akin to common automobiles. He highlighted that whereas related applied sciences like non-pneumatic tyres provide flexibility, they lack the obstacle-negotiating capacity of the morphing wheel.

Potential Influence and Functions

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

The morphing wheel gained recognition when featured as the quilt article of Science Robotics in August 2024. Its potential to reshape mobility applied sciences underscores ongoing efforts in innovation at KIMM. fashion>.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; high: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; peak: 100%; }