US Army develops wheels switching from tires to tracks

Mohamed Aly, (SEE)

JULY 5, 2018

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency" (DARPA) researchers  have come up with the Reconfigurable Wheel Track (RWT), a technology that's capable of shifting the wheel's shape while a vehicle is in motion, It can transform from a wheel to a track in a very short time, giving vehicles a dash of added mobility in mixed environments.

Wheels are best used on flat terrain, but tracks provide the traction needed to conquer just about everything else.

Usually, vehicles are equipped with either tires or tracks but, DARPA's RWT technology helps the military swap between the two choices.

Japanese car manufacturer "Nissan" has also a wide variety of concepts dedicated to this practice, with vehicles intended for both snow and dirt. The GMC Sierra All Mountain concept accomplishes the same approach, albeit with a beefier body up top.

DARPA is an agency that is responsible for ensuring that the U.S. is ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to next-gen tech.