Researchers Create Origami Wheels That Can Change Size

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Researchers Create Origami Wheels That Can Change Size

Posted by samzenpus on Sunday July 20, 2014 @06:03PM from the power-of-the-fold dept.

rtoz writes Researchers from Seoul National University have designed a robotic wheel based on the origami "magic ball pattern," which is a traditional technique used to create folded paper spheres. This robotic wheel can change its radius to create larger wheels to climb over things, and shrink back to a smaller size to squeeze under obstacles. The diameter of the wheels changes automatically to enable the robot to either be strong or speedy. The scientists think their innovation could one day be used for interplanetary rovers as the wheel can be folded up and "inflate" itself.

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Snow Crash! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-20 18:08 · Score: 3, Insightful

Oh how I want one of those skateboards...
1. Re:Snow Crash! by SB2020 · 2014-07-20 21:26 · Score: 2
  
  Why is this modded -1? The wheels of the skateboards in Snow Crash are the first thing that came to mind when I saw this.
2. Re:Snow Crash! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-20 23:46 · Score: 0
  
  Why is this modded -1? The wheels of the skateboards in Snow Crash are the first thing that came to mind when I saw this.
  Same here.
3. Re:Snow Crash! by drinkypoo · 2014-07-21 00:01 · Score: 1
  
  Smartwheels are made of telescoping scopes which depend on future-tech materials science, and this will require different future-tech materials science to be practical, so clearly it's totally different.
  Seriously though, it is totally different. Smartwheels can track over broken surfaces with full traction, these cannot.
  
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4. Re:Snow Crash! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-21 00:11 · Score: 0
  
  "telescoping scopes"? It's scopes all the way down?
5. Re:Snow Crash! by ArcadeMan · 2014-07-21 00:27 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Perhaps a link would have helped?
  
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6. Re:Snow Crash! by drinkypoo · 2014-07-21 00:35 · Score: 1
  
  "telescoping scopes"? It's scopes all the way down?
  I suppose you could use spokes.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
7. Re:Snow Crash! by unrtst · 2014-07-21 04:12 · Score: 1
  
  "telescoping scopes"? It's scopes all the way down?
  I suppose you could use spokes.
  Not sure telespoking scopes would do any better.
8. Re:Snow Crash! by Dins · 2014-07-21 05:08 · Score: 1
  
  I'll have you know, drinkypoo, that looking up your signature lead me to read Snow Crash to begin with. Great book!
9. Re:Snow Crash! by drinkypoo · 2014-07-21 05:26 · Score: 1
  
  I'll have you know, drinkypoo, that looking up your signature lead me to read Snow Crash to begin with. Great book!
  Well, at least there's that to make all this time spent Slashdotting worthwhile. If I am an anything fanboy, I am one for Neal Stephenson.
  
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Um, here's a simpler way by 50000BTU_barbecue · 2014-07-20 18:31 · Score: 4, Informative

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
But I guess that doesn't pump the money through the university system, nor feed the "interplanetary rover!" scenarios, nor create new IP...

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1. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by Sique · 2014-07-20 19:02 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  This is a different scenario and thus a different solution.
  
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2. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by 50000BTU_barbecue · 2014-07-20 22:55 · Score: 1
  
  What's different about climbing over obstacles?
  
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  Mostly random stuff.
3. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-20 23:06 · Score: 0
  
  But I guess that doesn't pump the money through the university system, nor feed the "interplanetary rover!" scenarios, nor create new IP...
  Nor did it work very well. My nephew had one many years ago. they were pretty crap. It's affinity with getting stuck was quite impressive.
  But hey.. Nice smooth hard plastic tyres are so much better than soft grippy rubber pads.
  Pillock.
4. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by 50000BTU_barbecue · 2014-07-20 23:22 · Score: 1
  
  ...I don't think the "smooth plastic tyres" (lol) were the point here, Anorak-Prime.
  So things never improve?
  Got it.
  Bell end.
  (yay! I can use hilarious foreign phrases too!)
  
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5. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by Sique · 2014-07-20 23:28 · Score: 2
  
  The demonstration video of the origami wheel was not about climbing obstacles, it was using the foldable wheel as some gear replacement with continous transmission ratio.
  
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6. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by 50000BTU_barbecue · 2014-07-20 23:34 · Score: 2
  
  "his robotic wheel can change its radius to create larger wheels to climb over things"
  
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  Mostly random stuff.
7. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by butalearner · 2014-07-21 00:51 · Score: 2
  
  Nor did it work very well. My nephew had one many years ago. they were pretty crap. It's affinity with getting stuck was quite impressive.
  I also had one as a kid, and I agree: it was next to impossible to get the things to go straight with those claws sticking out. However, I also had an RC truck in which the wheels were telescoping cylinders with relatively thick rubber-ish strips attached at both ends. Fully extended the strips were flat, but you could flip a switch (or something) and it would retract, making the strips bow outward, significantly increasing (maybe doubling) the effective diameter. Parentheticals because it was a long time ago.
  So I agree with OP that we could already do something like this, but when we're talking about space exploration, it's always worth looking at alternatives that may have different power requirements, mechanical complexity, etc. than the current options.
8. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by stephenmac7 · 2014-07-21 00:51 · Score: 2
  
  Yes, but it can also get smaller, to be able to squeeze through small spaces. The point is not being able to climb over things, but being able to adapt to the current situation. Depending on the size of the thing it need to climb over and how fine it's movement needs to be, it can adjust the wheel size.
  
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9. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by Charliemopps · 2014-07-21 01:49 · Score: 1
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
  But I guess that doesn't pump the money through the university system, nor feed the "interplanetary rover!" scenarios, nor create new IP...
  I still have that thing and my kid plays with it. LOL
10. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by CODiNE · 2014-07-21 02:00 · Score: 1
  
  But more importantly it doesn't have reaction traction.
  http://youtu.be/5ooEz9QtErM
  
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11. Re:Um, here's a simpler way by unrtst · 2014-07-21 04:18 · Score: 1
  
  However, I also had an RC truck in which the wheels were telescoping cylinders with relatively thick rubber-ish strips attached at both ends.
  Perhaps one of these? https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Re:Fake by 228e2 · 2014-07-20 18:46 · Score: 2

I didnt have a problem understanding him. You're just confusing someone who sounds different than you as someone with a mental illness.

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The main advantage of origami by The+Evil+Atheist · 2014-07-20 19:13 · Score: 5, Funny

The main advantage of the origami wheel is five-fold.

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1. Re:The main advantage of origami by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-20 20:37 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I'm not convinced it's an advantage; most origami designs fold under pressure.
2. Re:The main advantage of origami by ArcadeMan · 2014-07-21 00:24 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah but if Apple ever needs to add wheels to one of their product, it's a perfect match since they're already paper-thin.
  
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3. Re:The main advantage of origami by oldmac31310 · 2014-07-21 04:27 · Score: 1
  
  I would have thought that the main advantage would be either mountain or valley fold.
  
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4. Re:The main advantage of origami by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-21 04:44 · Score: 0
  
  I noticed the paddle wheels expand and contract ALSO with the cable, so in case you have a dust caked origami structure, you can jettison that and JUST use the paddle wheels -- saving the weight of an origami structure.
  In other words; In future applications of the Origami Wheel, you can dispose of the Origami Part pre-flight and reduce weight by 80%, creating a Paddle Wheel - Origami Wheel, Origami Wheel.
5. Re:The main advantage of origami by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-21 08:13 · Score: 0
  
  Sounds good, except that now you need to add some structure to replace what the origami portion handled (axial stability, and rigidity at the very least). And it has to force the spokes to maintain equal extension at all times. If one spoke's mechanism fails, then you can't retract the other spokes past that point without *drastically* impacting the ability to maneuver/steer. Hydraulics would almost certainly be heavier (and likely more prone to failure), as would solenoids.
differential by C3lt · 2014-07-20 21:09 · Score: 5, Interesting

Presumably wheels that change in size can also be used instead of a differential?
1. Re:differential by Sockatume · 2014-07-20 21:39 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Yep, one of their cited benefits is continuously variable torque without the weight of a transmission.
  
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2. Re:differential by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-20 23:26 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah, just the weight and complexity of every wheel needing to change size, along with the continuously variable center of gravity.
If they ever find water on Mars... by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-20 21:16 · Score: 0

Those paper wheels will undoubtedly get ruined.
1. Re:If they ever find water on Mars... by ArcadeMan · 2014-07-21 00:22 · Score: 1
  
  They did find water on Mars.
  
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No sarcasm. by otto.waltari · 2014-07-20 21:39 · Score: 5, Funny

Good job reinventing the wheel — and this time I really mean it.
Reinventing the wheel. by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-20 23:41 · Score: 0

Is there a need?
RC Car from 15 years ago by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-20 23:46 · Score: 0

I had an RC car like this from TYCO some 15 years ago... not the same mode of change but he wheels i believe slid along an elongated axle and it had roughly the same change in radius as this gizmo. wish i could find a link
power tires! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-20 23:53 · Score: 0

there was a toy truck in the 80s that could do this. didn't have one, but recall the commercials...
Tyco did it 7 years ago... Shell Shocker RC Toy by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-21 00:14 · Score: 3, Informative

Tyco Shell Shocker RC Toy (2007)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrLmKHjlTz0
Nothing new to see here...
1. Re:Tyco did it 7 years ago... Shell Shocker RC Toy by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-21 00:37 · Score: 1
  
  or galoob's "flex" from the late 80s... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ABnNdbEvg
2. Re:Tyco did it 7 years ago... Shell Shocker RC Toy by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-21 04:22 · Score: 0
  
  or galoob's "flex" from the late 80s... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ABnNdbEvg
  
  That is remarkably similar to the origami design, but without the origami.
Dust, dust everywhere! by ArcadeMan · 2014-07-21 00:20 · Score: 1

He should have cleaned the floor before recording that fake rescue video.

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Clever, but overly complex by argStyopa · 2014-07-21 00:22 · Score: 1

First, the main factor in a wheel, above all, is durability. A wheel that fails cannot perform its basic function. I'm not convinced that this wheel structure - while certainly clever -
After all, couldn't you get the EXACT same effect with an even greater range of variation (as well as an inherently simpler, more fault-tolerant and easily repairable design, as well as a principle that scales up or down in sturdiness simply and intuitively?) from an umbrella mechanism?

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1. Re: Clever, but overly complex by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-21 03:33 · Score: 1
  
  Build one and let's find out.
CREEPY! by Charliemopps · 2014-07-21 01:49 · Score: 1

Did anyone else get totally creeped out by that ending?
Iain M. Banks featured this, sort of by Rectal+Prolapse · 2014-07-21 05:14 · Score: 1

In his novel, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...
Wish he was alive to see this.
If they ever find water on Mars... by Anonymous Coward · 2014-07-21 08:20 · Score: 0

You didn't read the part of the article that discussed the construction materials, did you?
Don't you just need the metal wires part? by Agent0013 · 2014-07-23 03:49 · Score: 1

Couldn't you do the same thing using only the metal wires that the wheel actually rolls on? The origami part is unnecessary. You simply have the metal wires folded along the axle with a cable that pulls them in the same way this one does. The wires would then extend away from the axle and make a larger wheel diameter without the need for the paper origami part at all. As it is, the paper part does not seem to serve any function. It does not roll along the ground, nor does it extend the wires, the cable does that.

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