The wheel has just been re-invented... Literally... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 11:49:36 am
content: This idea has been around for several decades, in one form or another. They're used quite a bit in heavy plant that works in waste management. Michelin Tweel:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TweelEDIT: Very cool application of it though

author: SteveThackery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 01:18:30 pm
content: This one seems innovative in one sense: unlike the tweel, the stiffness can be altered.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 09:55:59 pm
content: Pretty kewl. Wonder how long those will last, though.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 10:01:03 pm
content: Quote from: SteveThackery on November 16, 2024, 01:18:30 pmThey have made an advanced derivative of the Tweel with NASA (Scarab wheels). I don't know if the Scarab wheels are active either, though.While the idea of these "active" wheels is pretty cool, it looks a bit too complex to me for it to be a really robust and widespread solution. So, pretty cool, but I personally wouldn't bet a single dollar on this ending up on reasonably affordable weelchairs, used daily by real people and not just as a marketing demo.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 10:58:44 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on November 16, 2024, 10:01:03 pmafaik wheelchairs are already shamefully expensive...The ability to climb stairs could be a game changer, though as you say, durability will be a key factor. Watch this space, eh...

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 09:29:31 am
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on November 16, 2024, 10:01:03 pmIt also appeared to be very bouncy when climbing stairs, which will be a problem for those with spinal issues.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 10:10:37 am
content: make the wheel or disc ring of fast acting linear actuators as spokes would be more appropriate for an electronic engineering challenge

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 02:06:12 pm
content: Michelin commercially sells "Tweels" for light duty applications like golf carts and ride on mowers.https://business.michelin.co.uk/tyre/michelin-airless-tyresAs I understand it, one major limitation is these are extremely noisy at speed, which means they're unlikely to see use in cars anytime soon.

author: SteveThackery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 02:35:49 pm
content: I wonder how "lossy" those wheels are compared with traditional wheelchair wheels. It's hard to tell, but I wonder if it will be hard work pushing that wheelchair along.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 03:01:57 pm
content: Quote from: jonovid on November 17, 2024, 10:10:37 amHow the heck are you doing to power those rotating actuators?

author: johansen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 07:19:31 pm
content: Quote from: SteveThackery on November 17, 2024, 02:35:49 pmNot for everyone but some might like the extra exercise.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 07:24:24 pm
content: You do not want a wheelchair been that high. It is simply dangerous to the disabled person using it. The center of gravity is WAY too high.

author: johansen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 07:30:54 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on November 17, 2024, 07:24:24 pmHuh?Its a test platform for a self balancing stair climbing chair. The tweels themselves could easily be installed on standard chairs

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 07:42:51 pm
content: Would you put your mom in that chair?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 09:29:40 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 16, 2024, 09:55:59 pmThat was my first thought. Tensioning and untensioning those cables all the time...

author: johansen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 09:34:02 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on November 17, 2024, 07:42:51 pmOnce it passes fda authorization sure. Segways have been around a long time, i worked on self balancing robots when i was 16, in 2004.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 09:40:32 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on November 17, 2024, 09:29:40 pmDepending of the duty cycle, IE, going up stairs is a small amount of time compared to the rest of the day moving, the cables can be removed and part of the rib structure of the wheels can be replaced with nitinol memory metals, using electric heating to relax the wheel for climbing stairs while using 0 power to cool to room temp pulls in and stiffens the wheel up.Remember, what you are being shown is a conceptual application, better materials and design integration can improve the robustness for practical use.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 09:52:43 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on November 17, 2024, 09:29:40 pmBut not just the cables; what about the tires themselves? That's a lot of flexing for a plastic/rubber material.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 09:53:47 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 17, 2024, 09:52:43 pmFunny, my car tires are mostly rubber and they lasted a few years now.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 10:36:23 pm
content: Quote from: Zero999 on November 17, 2024, 03:01:57 pmengineeringchallenge

author: johansen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 10:37:30 pm
content: Quote from: BrianHG on November 17, 2024, 09:40:32 pmIt is amazing how money solves problems lol.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 11:18:50 pm
content: Quote from: johansen on November 17, 2024, 10:37:30 pmYes money helps. Nitinol is a cheap known solution as such springs a readily made off the shelf. Even here in Montreal, there is a local shop designing car seats with nitinol stiffing support springs where the user can use their phone app to adjust the seat's stiffness and shape at multiple locations.

author: johansen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 11:29:37 pm
content: Quote from: BrianHG on November 17, 2024, 11:18:50 pmthe only product i've seen recently is a 500$ re-treadable nitiol bicycle tire..

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2024, 11:42:37 pm
content: Quote from: BrianHG on November 17, 2024, 09:53:47 pmYabbut, it looks to me like those tires flex a hell of a lot more than a car tire. (BTW, mine are, oh, about 10 years old and still work fine.)At some point those polymer molecules have to reach their breaking point ...

author: johansen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2024, 12:11:45 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 17, 2024, 09:52:43 pmThat has always been the problem, heat generation and fatigue . The tire itself is not a new idea at all.In general, there is a relationship between heat generation and the life of a material.Friction at the molecular level is usually associated with fatigue and yeilding.Truck tires blow out at low air pressure not because the rubber flexes too much but because the rubber heats up because it flexes too much.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2024, 04:07:26 am
content: Watching the video, I'm thinking that this is the kind of thinking style that kids often demonstrate. Without doubts or any negative framing that adults do. A kid would just accept that the wheel has those special features put in deliberately.Plus, yeah, a cool look, in action!

author: pardo-bsso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2024, 05:19:34 pm
content: Quote from: Zero999 on November 17, 2024, 03:01:57 pmWireless energy transfer via Tesla stuff above 5G to not disturb health insurers.(joke)

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2024, 06:10:36 pm
content: For the long term, I'd bet on developments that make bio-battery use practical.Very similar package, to the USB power lithiums.Plus, other features, maybe wild, are possible. How about a discontinuous spoke pattern; Each spoke then could 'break' into a sizable gap, just so the whole wheel carries past an obstruction, pillar structure or whatever hose or large wire.Each individual SPOKE is to 'break', as it approaches, but then will do the reverse,...a healing mechanism will stich the two halves back together, for weight carrying service.Even farther into the future (25 years ?), that SOOKE HEALING bond could be biological based as well. (Rather than more contemporary magnetic bonding.)Liquid Metal did it, for Cameron. Damn; I suppose the liquid metal robotic idea is now prior art, locking out any Patent claims as being already thought of.But, lol, it don't work that way (Patents grants). A person can usually wiggle out of the prior art conundrum simply by layering on some novel improvement(s).Liquid metal Bio-Wheel might result, but just the break-rebond active structure has some wild implications!