A steering design concept that allows wheels to roll forwards, backwards and sideways is being proposed for use on forklift trucks.
James Martin, a 25-year-old, London-based physicist, was recently awarded a top prize of £1,000 at the Shell Livewire Grand Ideas Awards to help develop his idea, dubbed Annularly Arranged Articulating Segments (AAAS).
While still waiting patent approval, Martin explained that the idea is an alternative to current rack and pinion steering mechanisms. Traditionally, he said, as a steering wheel turns the tyre pivots about an axis, causing the edges to move in opposite directions.
Martin said the wheels on an AAAS system are essentially ‘chopped into pieces’ so that each articulate without an axis is parallel with an axle on the wheel. ‘Each of the segments can move in two components,’ he said. ‘It can roll forwards and backwards and each of the segments can roll sideways.’
Such a design, Martin claimed, can improve manoeuvrability and reduce wear and tear on tyres, which means a longer life, decreased fuel consumption and a reduction in toxic fumes created by disposing of old tyres.
Martin is initially targeting his steering concept at the materials-handling industry – specifically for forklift trucks. He hopes his steering system could significantly reduce costs for the industry by reducing fuel use and tyre replacements.
His ultimate goal is to introduce the steering system for the wider vehicle market, but he admitted that this is still many years away.
Martin is currently looking for a partner to develop his concept into a working prototype. With a larger cash injection from investors, he envisions that a demonstrator could be built in six months time, with full commercialisation around three years away.
Is this concept not the same as that developed in the USA called ‘sidewinder’?
Is this a castor by another name?
Difficult to say from the vague description. But this sounds very similar to an idea Honda have developed for their U3-X personal transport device.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PENSEenxRQo
Basicaly a wheel where the rim is made of rollers that are powered to provide sideways movement.
I have almost had to admire this lad. He has said nothing and has got paid £1000 for it. My comment could be taken in many ways and does not cause any fumes. I can turn on a sixpence without wheels. Where do I collect my money from?
We have interest in your Rolling wheels for forklift trucks. Please provide details with price information.
Best regards,
Haekeon Corporation
CPO Box 6472 Seoul South Korea
Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately because of the patent concerns I needed to be a little sketchy on the exact details… it does actually work though!
AAAS Steering does have similar advantages to the “sidewinder” idea, which is also similar to the Honda concept idea, but achieves the motion in a different way. My method doesn’t need a large number of smaller wheels and can be completely mechanically based meaning less motors, less cost, reduced complexity and it is also much easier to fit pneumatic tyres.
Hope this helps!
James
aaas.steering@googlemail.com
DEAR JAMES MARTIN,
I CAN DESIGN IT FREE FOR YOU ON
PRO ENGINEER WILDFIRE 4.0 SOFTWARE THAT I HAVE, IF YOU CAN SKETCH IT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
I PROMISE NOT TO GIVE DESIGN TO ANYBODY ELSE OTHER THAN YOU.
Martin
Sounds interesting, may have an application for an advanced fork lift concept we are developing, please contact to discuss. Hugh