Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
18 Wheels Mutant Centipede Vehicle
This unique prototype has a unique style of clambering over any obstacle.
Speaking with Ilia Timoshkov, CEO and Co-Founder of 18Wheels, we learned that this first prototype was able to easily scamper over objects that are up to 14 inches tall, and it could climb obstacles that are more than 7.8 inches tall such as curbs, fallen trees, and rocks. Each of the 18 wheels has a built-in, waterproof electric motor. This unique suspension design allows the wheels to act like tank treads, providing unmatched traction while also massively reducing ground pressure by spreading the weight across a much larger surface area.Wild riding dynamics aside, the Ilia says that the company has taken what has been learned from the original prototype and are ready to begin constructing a second more production-focused prototype later this year. The second-generation ATV will retain the 18-wheel design but swaps the suspension to a more traditional style with coilover shocks providing much of the spring rate and adding damping ability. The vehicle will retain the ability to climb 7.8-inch obstacles and has more than 14 inches of ground clearance. Steering has been modified as well, with each pair of left-and-right side suspension arms articulating in the center giving the vehicle the appearance like that of a centipede navigating curves.
(Via MotorTrend.)
Fans of science fiction writer Robert Heinlein recall the walker wagon from Farmer in the Sky:
I don't know how to describe the walker wagon—maybe you've seen pictures since. If a centipede were a dinosaur and made of metal to boot, it would be a walker wagon. The body of it was a sort of trough and it was supported by thirty-eight legs, nineteen on a side."That," I said, "is the craziest contraption I ever laid eyes on. You'll never shove it out the door."
...He led me around to the end of the contraption; the trough came nearly down to the floor in back. Hank helped me get inside, told me to lie down, and went up to the other end. "The guy that built this," he said, "must have been a hump-backed midget with four arms. Hang on."
He poked a finger deep into a hole.
(Walker Wagon from Farmer in the Sky)
Compare the 18 Wheel centipede ATV with the Halluc II Robot With Multi Joint Wheels, one of my old favorite robots from 2007.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 9/29/2023)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Related News Stories - (" Vehicle ")
'Robovan' Name Already Taken - Elon, Try These
There are alternative names that are probably in the public domain by now.
Tele-Driving Offers Jobs For Tele-Drivers, Not AIs
''...some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre...' - Charles Stross, 2007.
GM Scraps Cruise Origin Robotaxi With No Steering Wheel
'Ames tinkered around with something on the instrument board when he got in; and in a few moments we were off.' - Miles Breuer, 1930.
GoSun EV Solar Charger Drapes Onto Your Car
'...six square yards of sunpower screens.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Miss Alabama Beauty Contest Offers Different Standards
'...they moved with the ease of dandelion puffs.'
Has Musk Given Up On Full Self Driving (FSD)?
'...some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre...'
Prufrock-3 'The Monster' Ready To Launch
Just go for it.
Drones In Vast Airborne Grids
'These pods were programmed to hang in space in a hexagonal grid pattern...'
Starship Special Edition For Lunar Shuttle
Love those special edition spaceships.
Capturing Asteroids With Nets
'...the meteor caught and halted just as a small boy catches a swift ball in his cap.'
Project Hyperion - Generation Ship Designers Needed!
'We have decided that it shall be but one ship... it must contain everything needed to take us through the generations.'
AI Welfare Position At Anthropic Filled By Human
'You’re the robopsychologist of the plant, so you’re to study the robot itself...'
Marslink Proposed By SpaceX
'It was the heart of the Solar System's communication line...'
Simple Way To Defeat AI Face Recognition
'... designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
Wood-Panelled LignoSat Launched
'The Consul remembered his first glimpse of the kilometer-long treeship...'
Laser-Beam Welding In Orbital Factories
'His contract with Space Industries required him to work summers in their orbital factory.'
'Iceberg House' Of Travis Kelce Reflects Science Fiction Of Past Century
'The basement was huge... carved deep into the rock that folded up to underlie the ridge...'
Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
A System To Defeat AI Face Recognition
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
Robot Hand Separate From Robot
'The crawling, exploring object was V-Stephen's surgeon-hand...'
