We Spent Years Trying to Reinvent the Wheel. It Turns Out It Was as Easy as Replacing It With Pilates Balls

I’ve always found the saying “we’re not going to reinvent the wheel” curious. Many people use it when they try to build a solution from scratch instead of using a proven solution that already exists and works well. I say this because many developers have reinvented the wheel many times and continue to do so.

Two examples are airless wheels and solutions for vehicles operating in terrains like those on Mars. Although they’re circular, their technology and design have little to do with the wheels you use daily. By being circular, the developers are really changing the materials, not reinventing the object.

But what if we made spherical wheels instead of circular ones? Engineer and YouTuber James Bruton has built precisely that: omnidirectional wheels that solve current problems with motorcycles and would also be exciting if applied to vehicles like cars and trucks.

Let’s Welcome The Wheel II

To reinvent the wheel, the system must be more than just an improved version of the original. As I mentioned earlier, puncture-proof wheels aren’t a complete reinvention but a technological improvement. What Bruton has accomplished could be considered a reinvention (although it took more than one attempt).

The reason? In his prototype of the future motorcycle, there aren’t only the two balls that make contact with the ground but also a system of three rotating mechanisms for each wheel. These apply the necessary force to move the balls and, consequently, the vehicle.

More than the spheres, the key to this vehicle’s peculiar movement is systems that rotate in opposite directions and balance each other to achieve motion. Each of these mechanisms is driven by an electric motor that transmits power and introduces a self-balancing system similar to a Segway.

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In this way, there’s no need to lean on the ground with your legs when the vehicle stops, nor is it necessary to maintain balance manually.

Its advantages:

• The prototype can move backward without the rider having to propel themselves with their legs.
• It has lateral displacement.
• It can move diagonally and turn on its axis. This is great for parking lots.

In the video, it’s interesting to see that the noise is minimal, that it reaches a certain speed, and that the mechanisms rotating the balls work continuously to give the vehicle speed and maintain balance.

Imperfect, But With Potential

However, it’s not perfect. The video shows that its creator has trouble driving in a straight line. There’s also a fairly steep learning curve for moving forward and cornering. In a road situation, it would be hazardous because, in addition, it doesn’t have a conventional handlebar but a fixed bar controlled by turning the handle.

There’s also a moment when overacceleration causes the balls to shoot out. Something like this would need its own driver’s license if it were to be used in the real world. Still, if the problems are solved, the automatic balancing system is very interesting for motorcycles.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea for cars and trucks, either, as they could park much more easily.

Seeing this invention, I remembered the Audi from the movie I, Robot, which has similar wheels and was an actual prototype. Also, the BYD parallel parking video shows the car locking the front wheels and letting the rear wheels turn slowly to “skid” until the car aligns in the parking space.

Will we ever adopt wheels like these? Whatever happens, it’s fascinating how people continue to discover new ways to enhance something that has existed for so long.

Images | James Bruton

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