NASAhas developed unpuncturable wheels for sale to the public
In a groundbreaking development, two innovative tire technologies, the Superelastic Tire and the Metl Tire, are poised to revolutionise the world of transportation on Earth and beyond.
The Superelastic Tire, a non-pneumatic marvel, has been designed to offer traction equal to or superior to conventional pneumatic tires, while eliminating the risk of puncture failures. This remarkable tire utilises shape memory alloys as its main load-bearing components, allowing it to withstand strains of up to 10% and revert to its initial shape after deformation. Furthermore, the Superelastic Tire does not require an inner frame, making it lighter and simpler in design.
A company, the SMART Tire Company, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to commercialize the Superelastic Tire for use on Earth, with applications ranging from cars to bicycles. Early backers have already signed up for the METLTM bicycle tire, a testament to the public's interest in this revolutionary technology.
Meanwhile, the Metl Tire, another NASA innovation, incorporates a spring made of NiTinol, a nickel-titanium alloy. This tire would not puncture and could rebound from punishing strain, demonstrating remarkable resilience. The Metl Tire's design is reminiscent of a Slinky, with the spring encircling the entire tire.
The road to bringing the Metl tire technology to everyday vehicles is long, as shape-memory alloys are expensive and scaling the design from a bike to a car is challenging. However, on Earth, the SMART Tire Company is working to commercialize the Metl tire technology for consumer products, starting with the METLTM bicycle tire.
The Metl tire has already been tested on Mars-like terrain at NASA's Glenn Research Center in 2024 and 2025. The Superelastic Tire, too, was developed by NASA for future Moon and Mars missions. It's worth noting that the Superelastic Tire is not the first innovation inspired by NASA in the field of tire technology.
The Metl tire technology could potentially be tailored for different landscapes, whether the Moon or a city street with potholes. If successful, these innovations could significantly improve automobile fuel efficiency and safety, making our journeys smoother and more sustainable.
In a fascinating turn of events, the company Tenneco attempted to commercialize NASA's superelastic tires for Earth, but details about the collaboration between the SMART Tire Company and NASA's Artemis lunar program remain undisclosed.
As these revolutionary tires make their way from the celestial bodies to our everyday roads, it's an exciting time for the future of transportation. Stay tuned for more updates on these groundbreaking innovations.
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