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Leave it to the French to try something different--a new prototype platform for electric cars from Citroen doesn't need to steer the wheels, because normal (cylindrical) wheels are replaced by spherical tires, made specially by Goodyear. https://www.tiretechnologyinternational.com/news/new-tires-news/goodyear-develops-bespoke-eagle-360-spherical-concept-tire-for-citroen.html
Goodyear introduced the Eagle 360 concept at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2016, with a second iteration, the Eagle 360 Urban concept, following in 2017. The latest iteration of the design features a high level of maneuverability (due to the tire’s spherical shape) and long-lasting attributes (thanks to a tread surface that is four times larger than a standard tire). The tire provides extended range due to a low-rolling-resistance rubber and consistent grip in all driving directions thanks to hexagonal siping.
Link includes pics of the car/platform and the tire tread. Are you ready to drive on big black soccer balls? I want mine multi-colored like beach balls.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by MostCynical on Wednesday October 06 2021, @02:20AM (8 children)
Apparently, 25km/h maximum speed
Some reports suggest the motors are INSIDE the tyres (tires) - possibly there is a set of magnets on the "rim" (sphere?), which could mean that the whole pod could magnetically 'levitate' inside its cage.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Wednesday October 06 2021, @02:49AM
25 km per hour. Hell I've seen guys on an electric skate board going faster than that around here. It does look kinda like a skate board though.
"It is easier to fool someone than it is to convince them that they have been fooled" Mark Twain
(Score: 2) by corey on Wednesday October 06 2021, @02:53AM
That’s where I was going in my thinking too. It can’t be orthogonal rollers like in an old school mouse, that’s just too inefficient I’d think. Wonder if they’ve come up with some fancy 3D spherical squirrel cage AC motor? Ie. electromagnets on the outside and inside the “tyre”, a set of bars arranged so as to effect magnetic spin when provided the right magnetic field. But then how to levitate the ball…
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 06 2021, @03:27AM (1 child)
Another link, this one has several pics of different "cabins" that can be fitted on top of the skate:
https://www.autonomousvehicleinternational.com/news/concept-vehicles/citroen-previews-vision-for-autonomous-mobility-pods.html [autonomousvehicleinternational.com]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by MostCynical on Wednesday October 06 2021, @04:35AM
so seats
or a bed
or a gym..
seats could be sticky
bed will be icky
gym will be stinky.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 06 2021, @06:55AM (3 children)
The steel belts required to keep the tire spherical at 25km/h could be used as motor windings, I suppose, but not very efficient. I see nothing about magnetic levitation in the summary. My bet would be rollers of some sort, but I'm not sure how they would be arranged.
(Score: 2) by stretch611 on Wednesday October 06 2021, @03:55PM (2 children)
I would expect this to be built like a golf ball or a baseball. Multiple layers, the inside not necessarily rubber. A spherical rebar cage near the surface would likely replace "belts."
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 07 2021, @02:20AM (1 child)
That would be much too heavy.
(Score: 2) by stretch611 on Thursday October 07 2021, @04:20PM
The center core could be a hollow aluminum sphere which would reduce weight while the structure of the sphere would provide a lot of structural support.
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P