STORY: :: KIMMThis is not your average wheelchair.Researchers in South Korea have developed what they claim is a world first: a shapeshifting ‘morphing’ wheel.The technology shifts between rigid and soft states.Offering stability on flat ground, but transforming into a flexible form when encountering obstacles.:: KIMMThe design could allow wheelchairs to climb stairs and navigate rocky paths, with the wheels changing their stiffness in real-time without needing complex machinery or sensors.Principal researcher at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, Song Sung-Hyuk, says the wheel’s adaptability is inspired by the surface tension of liquid droplets.“When the force that pulls the outermost molecules of a liquid droplet inward increases, the droplet can maintain a stable circular shape. Similarly, our wheel is designed with a smart chain block on the outer edge; the greater the inward pull on this block, the more stably it maintains a round shape.”When wire spokes pull the smart chain blocks inward, the wheel becomes rigid.When loosened, it softens, allowing it to mold to uneven surfaces.The team is eyeing other uses for the technology, from personal mobility devices to industrial robots.“This modularized wheel can be attached to any mobile platform simply by replacing existing wheels. Once installed, the wheel provides variable stiffness, adapting to each application. We are continuously conducting research to optimize the wheel’s performance for various applications.”