The solid center hub has been a feature of the modern automobile wheel since the very beginning, at first connected to the outter rim by thin steel sppkes, later turning to heavy cast or forged pieces for added rigidity. As tire technologies improved and the rubber part became more advanced, it began taking up more of the shock absorbtion duty.
However, a wheelchair user has come up with an ingenious idea of combining shock absorbers and spokes into a single rugged design. The immediate benefit of applying this promising piece of (refreshingly simple) innovation would be for those using wheelchairs, bicycles and everything in between, though it could realistically be used elsewhere.
For instance, having a system like this used on top of a conventional setup on, say, a big luxury car, could actually offer that “magic carpet ride” attributed to several cars throughout history, sometimes unfairly.
If adapted for automotive use, the idea could grow in complexity, but it needs to keep its focus on the main feature: the desire for the center hub to float in mid air…
By Andrei Nedelea
Story References: Softwheel via Wired
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