Smartwheels

Special "wheels" that are actually sets of spokes that telescope to be as long as they need to be for a smooth ride. (Read the full article)

"Check out the Ped Wheel. An idea from around 1910 as a precursor and or competitor to tracks. Many were built, some with complex geometry. Unfortunatly you loose contact area on the ground hence contact pressures go up which is bad news on most surfaces. The idea of variable geometry wheels is something I've been playing with for years. New materials and control capabilities mean something is possible."
(Stephen Thomas 6/9/2004 4:13:00 PM )
"Now you can. http://www.sportbilen.se/e_index.php?page=e_news.php?id=89 http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000130025753/ "
(Per 1/11/2005 9:24:16 AM )
"For applications of this technology in NASA-form see about the Mars Science Laboratory: (picture) http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?pic=h_rover-comp_wheels_02.jpg&cap=High+rollers%3A+Relative+sizes+of+wheels+used+on+Mars+rovers+%96+from+left+to+right%3A+Mars+Pathfinder%92s+Sojourner%3B+the+Spirit+and+Opportunity+robots%3B+to+Mars+Science+Laboratory.+Image+Credit%3A+NASA%2FJPL (engineering principle) http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/rover/Mars.wheels.bpf.html"
(Masa Thavia 3/19/2006 8:00:36 PM )
"Check out www.SmartWheel.com.au a full sized vehicle, commercial version of the USU CSOIS 'Smart Wheels'"
(Glen Rayward 7/24/2007 5:17:34 PM )
"i am working on a prototype of smartwheels [the neal stephenson type] right now. its not as difficult as one might think. soulutions needed ole at falanx dot de"
(ole 8/24/2011 2:26:41 PM )

More info on Smartwheels

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