Researchers have created a new variable-stiffness morphing wheel that can not only roll over giant stones and other rough terrain, but they can even climb stairs. The wheels adjust stiffness in real time and could soon find themselves in a wide range of applications, from wheelchairs to mobile robots.
Developed by the Advanced Robotics Research Center of the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials’ Research Institute of AI Robotics, the wheels are inspired by the surface tension of a drop of liquid.
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The system alters the wheel's stiffness by changing the surface tension to the smart chain blocks without complex machinery or sensors. The wheel operates like a normal, circular rigid structure in regular driving mode and then switches to a soft, deformable state when rolling over obstacles.
While previous technologies, like non-pneumatic tires, have designed the inside of wheels as flexible structures, the wheels are continuously deformed even when driving on flat surfaces, which makes them less efficient and stable, and often much noisier. This wheel's stiffness is adjusted on the fly.
The outermost edge of the wheel is a smart chain connected to a wire spoke structure that controls the chain's surface tension. The spokes are connected to a hub. When the hub structure rotates or the distance changes, the spoke is either pulled tightly or loosened, altering the surface tension.
For example, if the wire spokes pull the smart chain blocks inward, the traction force at the outermost smart chain structure increases. According to the researchers, the action is similar to an increment in the surface tension of a drop of liquid that causes an increase in the net force pulling the outermost liquid molecules, which helps the liquid droplet stably maintain a circular shape. If the wire spoke structure loosens, the rigidity declines.
The researchers recently made a small, modular version that can be applied to a range of mobile systems. For example, they put one in a two-wheeled wheelchair that rolled over rocks and climbed 7-inch (18-cm) high stairs. The team also put the wheel on a four-wheeled mobile system, and it can stably climb over obstacles that are 1.3 times higher than the wheel radius.
Not only could this be a gamechanger for wheelchairs, but it could solve efficiency and stability problems with two- and four-legged walking robots that struggle over obstacles.
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Researchers have created a new variable
stiffness, morphing wheel that can not only
00:05.079 --> 00:10.520
roll over giant stones and other rough terrain,
but they can even climb stairs.
00:10.659 --> 00:15.739
The wheels adjust stiffness in real time and
could soon find themselves in a wide range of
00:15.750 --> 00:21.409
applications from wheelchairs to mobile robots
developed by the advanced robotics Research
00:21.420 --> 00:27.409
Center of the Korea Institute of Machinery and
Materials Research Institute of A I Robotics.
00:27.819 --> 00:32.902
The wheels are inspired by the surface tension
of a drop of liquid.
00:32.943 --> 00:37.612
The system alters the wheel's stiffness by
changing the surface tension to the smart chain
00:37.623 --> 00:43.033
blocks without complex machinery or sensors.
The wheel operates like a normal circular rigid
00:43.042 --> 00:48.222
structure in regular driving mode and then
switches to a soft deform state when rolling
00:48.233 --> 00:51.643
over obstacles.
While previous technologies like non pneumatic
00:51.652 --> 00:55.335
tires have designed the inside of wheels as
flexible structures,
00:55.506 --> 01:00.655
the wheels are continuously deformed even when
driving on flat surfaces which makes them less
01:00.666 --> 01:06.986
efficient and stable and often much noisier.
This wheel stiffness is adjusted on the fly.
01:06.996 --> 01:12.236
The outermost edge of the wheel is a smart
chain connected to a wire spoke structure that
01:12.246 --> 01:16.419
controls the chain's surface tension, the
spokes are connected to a hub.
01:16.430 --> 01:19.889
And when the hub structure rotates or the
distance changes,
01:20.010 --> 01:24.470
the spoke is either pulled tightly or loosened,
altering the surface tension.
01:24.480 --> 01:28.529
For example, if the wire spokes pull the smart
chain blocks inward,
01:28.559 --> 01:32.915
the traction force at the outermost smart chain
structure increases.
01:32.925 --> 01:37.824
According to the researchers, the action is
similar to an increment in the surface tension
01:37.834 --> 01:42.845
of a drop of liquid that causes an increase in
the net force pulling the outermost liquid
01:42.855 --> 01:47.514
molecules, which helps the liquid droplet
stably maintain its circular shape.
01:47.910 --> 01:51.699
If the wire spoke structure loosens the
rigidity declines.
01:51.800 --> 01:56.769
The researchers recently made a small modular
version that can be applied to a range of
01:56.779 --> 02:00.360
mobile systems.
For example, they put one in a two wheeled
02:00.370 --> 02:04.669
wheelchair that rolled over rocks and climbed
seven inch high stairs.
02:04.900 --> 02:09.369
The team also put the wheel on a four wheel
mobile system and it can stably climb over
02:09.380 --> 02:13.210
obstacles that are 1.3 times higher than the
wheel radius.
02:13.580 --> 02:18.199
Not only could this be a game changer for
wheelchairs, but it could solve efficiency and
02:18.210 --> 02:23.399
stability problems with two and four legged
walking robots that often struggle over
02:23.410 --> 02:27.190
obstacles.
I'm David Manti, this is manufacturing now.
