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Eagle-360 Spherical Wheel Concept
Goodyear has put out a pretty cool video for spherical wheels:
(Eagle 360 spherical wheel prototypes)
The wheels are dubbed “Eagle-360”. According to the concept video, the wheels are held in place by magnetic levitation. Sponge-like grooves in the tries dampen when wet to resist hydroplaning. The spherical wheels shake off excess water like a dog. When dry, the sponge hardens and the wheels are again made for speed. Sensors in the tires read road conditions and communicate them to other cars. The spherical wheels will scan themselves for wear and tear and adjust alignments as needed, so that it’s not wearing down the same strip of wheel all the time.
Update 04-May-2021: There is a science fiction precedent for this idea as early as 1930; see the spherical tires from The Death's Head Meteor (1930) by Neil R. Jones:
It was mounted upon four revolving metal spheres set into its keel instead of wheels as landing gear.
End update.
As we all remember (and maybe the Goodrich Eagle-360 team?) from the 2004 movie I, Robot, cars with spherical wheels are highly maneuverable, as are truck transports.
(Spherical tires in I, Robot
Via PopSci.
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