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'Roadless': Ackeem Ngwenya's Amazing All-Terrain Shape-Shifting Wheel Design

By Rain Noe - October 25, 2013

in Social Impact | Cars

The phrase goes that one oughtn't reinvent the wheel, yet we've seen countless examples of people trying, from square to hubless to powered. The latest wheel reinvention to make the, er, rounds comes from Ackeem Ngwenya, a student of Innovation Design Engineering at London's RCA. Ngwenya's designed something that looks simultaneously nutty and completely feasible: A shape-shifting wheel he's calling "Roadless."

The "Why" of it is pretty simple. Ngwenya grew up in rural Africa, where "head-loading" remains the most practical way to transport goods, as arduous and inefficient as it is. He reckons that a shape-shifting wheel could adapt to different terrains, thus providing a one-size-fits-all solution for load-carrying carts, bikes or vehicles in areas with no infrastructure.

The "How" of it is both simple and fascinating. By using the principle of a scissor jack, and arraying a series of them around a circle, the wheel would either grow shorter and wider, or taller and more narrow, as the mechanism is manipulated.

Sadly, Ngwenya was supposed to graduate last June, but his tuition money ran out, leaving him unable to earn his degree and complete the Roadless project. Thus he's started an IndieGogo campaign in hopes of collecting the necessary funding. Here's the pitch video:

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Product tank

11 years ago

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There was a wheel competition last year with similar concepts. I think the problem with a wheel that flexes like this will be increased wear, but I question why it is necessary? All the terrains shown can be handled by a standard wheel. 4x4's/ off road vehicles cope well on and off the road without having to change the shape of their tyres. In an area that is not affluent, why add increased complexity and there for increased expense.
PT
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Mathieu

11 years ago

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I had a RC car with similar wheels when I was a kid (can't find a link).
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- Will Oltman
  
  9 years ago
  
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  Here is the RC Car
  
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varun

11 years ago

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Also the load on the spokes when turning as well as simple straight path.How is the load distribution?
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varun

11 years ago

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Design is good and can work but i am a little concerned about the cg that will keep on changing if the frame is not independent somehow...can be eliminated,a simple problem but have you considered that? coz i think ditches need a high centre of gravity but again you can make the frame in such a way that desirable charctrstcs are achvd.
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johnofthejungle

11 years ago

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The outside "tire" doesn't need to be solid rubber -- what about a woven rubber? Or some type of woven canvas textile with a little elastic to provide some stretch. It could be feasible with a separate innertube that can flexes to fill the voids.
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EDRC

11 years ago

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This is a nice concept but that is it.
There is no accounting or mention of the method or material that will cope with the circumference increase as the diameter increases.
Surely car manufacturers have already persued this?

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- Dennis Young
  
  9 years ago
  
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  One should never assume someone else has thought of this. If you are to assume then assume the other way around as if no one has ever come up with this idea and you may just come out of the box with something that will save us all.
  
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Sylvian Bryan

11 years ago

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This concept makes sense. How else could this mechanics be used?
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Ricardo Coelho

11 years ago

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I like to say, good design comes from those who experience the problem
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John Turner

11 years ago

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Cool idea, but I'm concerned about how the rubber tire material will behave. That transformation would put a lot of stress on the material so it will have to be flexible and elastic, which wouldn't provide much support as a wheel. If that is the case this would provide a bumpy ride as the spokes are the only thing providing support as it rolls along the ground. Maybe he has a solution for this issue, but I don't see it from the material presented.
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