By Superinnovators, 09/1/2023
A transformable wheel made from composite membrane origami has been developed by a joint research team from Seoul National University, Harvard and Hankook Tire. The tire is capable of bearing more than 1,000kg of load.
The technique involves using flexible membranes and rigid facets to construct transformable mechanisms, simplifying design, fabrication and assembly processes.
It also allows for flexibility and the ability to absorb shocks, making it useful for high-payload applications such as vehicle wheels.
Their latest findings were published in Science Robotics journal in 2021.
Traditionally, origami design has focused on zero facet thickness and fold line width.
However, in order to accommodate thicker membranes and increase load-bearing capabilities, this study introduces a wireframe design rule.
The design rules were developed to address both the geometric and physical characteristics of the thick membrane, and were applied to basic origami patterns to obtain the desired wheel shapes and transformation.
The resulting wheel was tested on a passenger vehicle and proved capable of withstanding high loads.
This development expands the potential applications of composite membrane origami and highlights its potential for use in load-bearing structures.
The technique could have potential uses in fields including robotics, automotive and aerospace engineering.
Composite membrane origami offers several benefits over conventional wheel design, including simple fabrication, high weight-to-payload ratio, and the ability to achieve a wide range of shapes. Its potential for use in load-bearing structures opens up a range of possibilities for the technique in various fields.
With further development, the researchers hope that their wheel could be applied to commercial passenger vehicles and allow more versatility than current classic wheels.
“Missions in an unstructured or unpredictable environment, such as indoor robot service, door-to-door delivery, or exploring environments that have not been reached by civilization, such as planetary surfaces, require more than the standard wheel,” said lead author Dae-Young Lee in a related interview.
More info:
https://www.biorobotics.snu.ac.kr/_files/ugd/f7839e_a96cd82900e34518a94bc0e73b96cd71.pdf
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abe0201
https://www.biorobotics.snu.ac.kr/
