Square Wheel Car Propels Itself by Shifting Weight – New Toy Design

A new method of locomotion has recently been invented that makes an interesting new toy. The wheel has been re-invented and it is now square. The motion is novel and has inspired many to ask where they can buy one.

Troy, N.Y. (PRWEB)December 1, 2005 – A new method of locomotion has recently been invented that makes an interesting new toy. The wheel has been re-invented and it is now square. The motion is novel and has inspired many to ask where they can buy one.

The first prototype consisted of a car with 4 square wheels, in the general configuration of a typical car, with all 4 wheels mechanically connected together so they must all turn in unison. Furthermore, the rotational orientation of the wheels are sequentially off-set from one wheel to the next by 22.5° (¼ of 90°), moving around the vehicle in a CW or CCW direction as viewed from above.

“The weight shifting that propels the car is facilitated by a weight offset laterally from the center of the car that is moved in a rotational manner around the center of the car”, says inventor Jason Winckler of Global Composites. “The rotation is provided by a driven shaft extending vertically from the center of the car, with a lateral arm and off-set weight. As the shaft rotates, the weigh shifts in a circular manner around the car”.

“The shifting weight sequentially drives each wheel that is under the weight to sit flat on the ground, thus moving the other wheels in a rotational manner, and the car in a linear direction; reversing the direction of the rotating weight, reverses the direction of the car. There are also several methods for steering the car that are under development” says Steven Winckler, President of Global Composites.

“For use as an RC Car will require one of the turning methods, and the technology will be a commercialization of industrial robots” states Stephen Derby, President of Distributed Robotics LLC and consultant to Global Composites. “Watching it move is just a marvelous thing. Technology is enriched by a new approach to an old problem”.

Global Composites is currently in early discussions with several companies for the licensing of this technology for the toy market.

For more information and a video demonstration on the square wheel car visit http://www.globalcomposites.net

For more information and a video demonstration on Distributed Robotics visit http://www.distributedrobotics.com

About Global Composites, Inc.

Global Composites, Inc. was started in 1999 as a spin-off from General Composites, Inc. to focus on design and process development of composite material products as well as research into other engineering challenges.

Contact: Steven Winckler (518) 339-3952

About Distributed Robotics LLC

Distributed Robotics was formed in 1998 to develop and market novel automation solutions for industry, ranging from full size machines to robotic end effectors for micro assembly.

Contact: Stephen Derby (518) 441-6101