Xaotik Designs

Need to go somewhere that’s covered in ice and snow. It used to be that you would use something with a caterpillar system to move around on the ground. It gave you the most traction and allowed you to move over rough terrain with no problem. Well, it looks like they have found a better way to move around. With the help of robotics, they have reinvented the wheel.

“Iwamoto’s team has built a wheel with six vanes on its side that are linked to both the wheel and a central hub (see diagram). The rear of each vane pivots on the wheel, while a spoke from the hub joins the vane nearer its centre. By varying the position of the hub relative to the wheel axle, the operator can alter the angle of the vanes, ensuring the best possible traction for the conditions and preventing the wheel from sinking or slipping.

For example, on ice the vanes can be angled so that those underneath hook into the surface to gain traction, pulling the wheel forward. In soft snow, they can either lie flat to compact the snow or act as paddles to push the wheel along. The wheel can also transform into a digging device, allowing the robot to burrow into a wall of snow or simply clear a path. To prevent snow from clogging up the central space between the vanes, the hub control mechanism is housed in the wheel disc.” Via NewScientist

Hmmm…

That reminds me of something…