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"In 1970 I found little difficulty staying 30 years ahead of the man in the street, and now I find it difficult to stay 18 months ahead of the man on the street."
- Vernor Vinge
 |
| Flex-Wheels | ||
| Special wheels designed for getting around on the Moon. |
| Most of them moved on balloon tires, for this smooth, level plain posed no transportation difficulties; but one tanker rolled on the peculiar flex-wheels which had proved one of the best all-purpose ways of getting around on the Moon. A series of flat plates arranged in a circle, each plate independently mounted and sprung, the flex-wheel had many of the advantages of the caterpillar track from which it had evolved. It would adapt its shape and diameter to the terrain over which it was moving, and, unlike a caterpillar track, would continue to function even if a few sections were missing. |
| From 2001: A Space Odyssey ,
by Arthur C. Clarke. Published by Del Rey in 1968 Additional resources -
|
See also the smartwheels from Neal Stephenson's 1992 novel Snow Crash.
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Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from 2001: A Space Odyssey
More Ideas
and Technology by Arthur C. Clarke
Tech news articles related to 2001: A Space Odyssey
Tech news articles related to works by Arthur C. Clarke
Flex-Wheels-related
news articles:
- NASA's Spring Tire For Improved Lunar Mileage
- iRing Lunar Flex-Wheel
- RASC-AL Lunar Wheel Design Challenge Is ON!
| Hyperloop One Video Shows It Works! |
| Flexup Tire Design Good For Tumblebugs |
| Musk Tunnels Wisely Restrict Drivers |
| Amazing Tesla Autopilot Video |
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