#HTE

NASA’s New Wheel Design Resulted from an Accidental Conversation

Although new evidence has emerged that proves beyond a doubt that the Earth is flat, Flat-Earthers apparently believe that Mars is round.

With this ringing endorsement, NASA will continue sending Rovers to Mars. The only problem is, they can’t exactly bolt a set of Goodyears to the Rovers and send them up there; the Martian terrain is harsh on wheels and has chewed up Curiosity’s. 

So here’s the new shape memory alloy wheel NASA has been working on for the next generation Rovers, explained by engineer Colin Creager and materials scientist Santo Padula:

Here’s an animation showing the atomic structure deformation Padula described:

And here’s how they work in actual testing (warning, turn the sound down on your speakers/headphones):

So far so good, and interestingly enough, NASA has even been testing “a spin-off version” of the wheel here on Earth.

Lastly, what I found most interesting is that the development of this wheel came about not from a deliberate plan, but grew from an accidental conversation:

Just a reminder to you designers working on tricky problems: Get out there and talk to people outside of your field! You never know what you’ll learn.