Ukrainian companies Print&Live UA and iSCALE 3D have developed airless wheels for NRCs. They are damage-resistant and, according to the developers, can increase the robots' range by up to 30%.
Ukrainian companies Print&Live UA and iSCALE 3D have developed airless wheels for NRCs. They are damage-resistant and, according to the developers, can increase the robots' range by up to 30%.
This is reported by "Military".
The wheels are printed on a large-scale 3D printer from durable elastic materials. Inside, they have a cellular structure, thanks to which they withstand loads even after partial destruction. They also have a closed design with a rounded tread. Thanks to this, less dirt, stones and ice should accumulate in the wheels.
In addition, the kit weighs only 32–56 kg, while the weight of foreign analogues, according to the developers, is 88–144 kg. The lower weight and shape of the tread reduce resistance during movement, so the robot consumes less battery power, which makes it possible to increase the range of the robot complexes.
The wheels can be customized to fit different robotic platforms, changing their stiffness, shape, and shock absorption. And for field repairs, a two-piece disc has been designed. It allows tire replacement without special equipment.
The development has already passed field and combat tests. The wheels are manufactured in small batches and transferred to the Ukrainian military. The kit costs about 680 euros.
Previously, dev.ua wrote that Ukrainian DefTech company Farsight Vision introduced a navigation module that helps ground robots navigate without GPS.
