NASA engineers have developed a groundbreaking tire technology for the latest rovers designed for Mars exploration.
Any vehicle traversing the rocky surface of Mars requires durable wheels. For instance, the Perseverance rover is equipped with thick aluminum wheels featuring spikes to enhance traction and mobility. However, a new concept for wheel designs aimed at future explorers of the Red Planet emphasizes flexibility over rigidity.
2025-01-23 10:02:25https://naked-science.ru/community/1025678
Experts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have developed a prototype of new tires made from a special alloy of nickel and titanium. These tires can return to their original shape after bending, stretching, or exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations.
The prototype has already been tested on a Martian terrain simulator at an Airbus facility in the UK. According to engineers, although the shape of the new tires changed in response to the rocky surface, the deformations were minimal, and the tests "met expectations."