STORY: :: KIMM
This is not your average wheelchair.
Researchers in South Korea have developed what they say is a world first: a shape-changing 'morphing' wheel.
The technology shifts between rigid and soft states.
Provides stability on a flat surface, but transforms into a flexible shape when encountering obstacles.
:: KIMM
The design could allow wheelchairs to climb stairs and navigate rocky paths, with the wheels changing their stiffness in real time without the need for complex machinery or sensors.
Lead researcher at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials Song Sung-Hyuk says the wheel's adaptability is inspired by the surface tension of liquid droplets.
“When the force that pulls the outer molecules of a liquid droplet inward increases, the droplet can maintain a stable circular shape. Similarly, our wheel is designed with a clever chain block on the outer edge; the greater the inward pulling force on this block, the more stably it maintains a round shape.”
When wire spokes pull the smart chain blocks in, the wheel becomes stiff.
When loosened, it softens, allowing it to conform to uneven surfaces.
The team is looking at other applications of the technology, from personal mobility aids to industrial robots.
“This modular wheel can be attached to any mobile platform by simply replacing the existing wheels. Once installed, the wheel offers variable stiffness and adapts to any application. We continuously conduct research to optimize the performance of the wheel for different applications.”
