Researchers at the South Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) have developed an innovative flexible wheel design that promises to transform mobility on challenging terrain. This “rueda “changeable”, equipped with advanced sensors, can adapt to the terrain and overcome obstacles such as sidewalks, potholes and even stairs, something that conventional wheels cannot achieve.
Presented in the journal Science Robotics, this technology was tested in a modified wheelchair, capable of negotiating stairs with steps up to 18 cm high while carrying a mannequin to simulate loading. According to those responsible for the project, the chair reaches speeds of up to 30 km/h and can overcome obstacles with a height equivalent to 130% of the radius of its wheels.
The project opens new possibilities for both domestic use and industrial and military applications. Sung-Hyuk Song, one of the lead researchers, pointed out that this type of wheels could be implemented in robots that transport objects in complex urban environments or in military vehicles that need to adapt to unpredictable terrain.
The key to this innovation is the sensors integrated into the wheels, which constantly analyze the terrain and adjust their flexibility to guarantee the necessary traction and stability. Although there are non-conventional tires that offer some adaptability, this design goes a step further, offering movement efficiency comparable to that of traditional wheels, but with significantly greater ability to overcome obstacles.
In a demonstration carried out for the Reuters agency, the wheelchair equipped with this technology climbed a staircase with impressive fluidity, showing the real potential of changing wheels in everyday environments.
The researchers highlight that, in addition to improving the mobility of people with disabilities, this technology could transform the design of autonomous robots, especially in the logistics sector, where the ability to avoid obstacles can make a difference in the efficiency of delivery systems.
With speeds, adaptability and movement efficiency on par with traditional wheels, this development could become a game-changer in the way we get around uneven terrain, experts say.
The flexible design also raises interesting opportunities in military applications, allowing robots to deploy missions in hostile terrain with fewer restrictions.