Origami-Inspired Wheels Lead to More Mobile Robots

Jun-20-14 Recently, two research groups demonstrated wheels inspired by origami that will allow for stronger and more nimble mobile robots.

One version, created by a team from Seoul's BioRobotics Laboratory, is based on origami's magic ball pattern. This design allows the wheel to change its radius, which makes it easier for the robot to climb over obstacles or roll under them, depending upon the wheel's height.

The other project, from the Harvard Microrobotics Lab and a group from Seoul National University, involves designing wheels able to expand and shrink that could also function as an "automatic, continuously variable transmission." Since torque is directly related to the radius of a wheel, such robots would be able to switch between hauling mode and speed mode simply by changing the radius of the wheels.

More Info about this Invention:

[IEEE.ORG]
[BIOROBOTICS LABORATORY]

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