This reminds me the the smart wheels on the skateboards in ‘Snowcrash’
Smart wheels use sonar, laser range finding and millimeter wave radar to identify mufflers and other debris. Each one consists of a hub with many tiny spokes. Each spoke telescopes into five sections. On the end is a squat foot, rubber tread on the bottom, swiveling on a ball joint. As the wheel rolls, the feet plant themselves one at a time, almost glomming into one continuous tire. If you surf over a bump, the spokes contract to roll over it. If you surf over a pothole, the rubber prongs probe its asphalt depths.
No self moving parts or little feet, but the design is pretty cool. My friend Kevin has this to say:
Clever, but isn’t this essentially a rubber
wagon wheel? The elegant simplicity that are the laws of nature.
I think he is pretty much on the money there.
gizmag Article: Michelin Tweel could dramatically change tyre technology
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