A new wheel design inspired by origami could change how robots explore the Moon’s hidden underground features, according to a Tech Xplore article. Beneath the lunar surface lie lava tubes and deep pits that could protect future explorers from radiation and temperature extremes, but reaching those sites is tough because entrances are steep and covered in loose rock and dust. Traditional small rover wheels can’t overcome obstacles taller than the wheel itself, and larger wheels mean heavier, riskier vehicles. This wheel tackles that problem by expanding or contracting without conventional hinges or gears.
A research team led by Professor Dae-Young Lee at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) combined structural ideas from da Vinci’s self-supporting bridges with folding patterns from origami. They built a variable-diameter, airless wheel that unfolds from about 230 mm to 500 mm in diameter. The design uses an elastic metal frame and fabric tensioners rather than metal joints, which mitigates the problem of lunar dust and cold welding, a process in the Moon’s vacuum where exposed metal surfaces stick together.
Engineers tested the wheels in simulated lunar soil. The expanding wheels showed better traction on steep slopes and survived a drop equivalent to a 100-meter fall in lunar gravity. That performance suggests a small rover with these wheels could retain a low profile during transport yet still tackle rugged terrain once unfolded on the lunar surface.
The team also optimized the design to handle extreme temperature swings of roughly 300°C between lunar day and night, a critical requirement for any lunar hardware. Scientists involved say this wheel could lower major barriers to exploring lava tubes and pits, natural geological treasures that have been hard to reach until now.
Future missions could pair these wheels with compact rovers, boosting the odds that robots will unlock the Moon’s subsurface secrets and scout sheltered spaces ideal for science or human habitation.