High-load capacity origami transformable wheel.

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Origami Engineering

Background:

• Composite membrane origami simplifies transformable mechanism design but has limited load-bearing capacity.
• Existing membrane origami applications are restricted due to low payload capabilities.
• Origami-based wheels offer benefits like simple fabrication and shock absorption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a transformable origami wheel with significantly enhanced load-bearing capacity.
• To overcome the limitations of traditional membrane origami for high-payload applications.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of high-load origami structures in real-world scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Utilized thick membranes as a core component for increased load support.
• Introduced novel wireframe design rules to accommodate thick membranes and prevent geometric conflicts.
• Applied design rules to basic origami patterns to achieve desired wheel shapes and transformations.
• Validated the wheel's performance through application on a passenger vehicle and field testing.

Main Results:

• Developed a transformable origami wheel capable of bearing over 10 kilonewtons.
• Successfully addressed geometric and physical challenges associated with thick membrane integration.
• Demonstrated the wheel's functionality and robustness in a practical passenger vehicle application.
• Validated the effectiveness of the new design rules for high-payload origami structures.

Conclusions:

• Membrane origami technology can be advanced for high-payload applications.
• The developed wireframe design rules are crucial for accommodating thick membranes in origami structures.
• This research expands the potential applications of transformable origami mechanisms beyond current limitations.