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On December 11, 2017, NASA released a kind of non pneumatic tire made of shape memory alloy, which is not only lighter, stronger and safer, but also can be used in various harsh terrain. In the future, in addition to its application in Mars exploration missions, this kind of tyre can also be used as a substitute for traditional tyres on earth.
NASA said the revolutionary product, known as "super elastic tire," was developed by NASA's Glenn Research Center and Goodyear, and was inspired by the tires used by the Apollo lunar rover.
Using shape memory alloy as radial material can also increase the load-bearing capacity of tire. Compared with the traditional tire, "super elastic tire" reduces the possibility of tire blowout, so it also improves driving safety. In addition, the design of the tire also reduces the demand for the inner frame, which helps to simplify the tire assembly and reduce the weight of the tire. Moreover, it can also reduce the energy transmitted to the vehicle during operation. In addition to being installed on Mars exploration vehicles such as curiosity for space missions, this kind of tyre can also be applied to all kinds of vehicles and aircraft on the earth, including military vehicles, general vehicles, heavy equipment vehicles, agricultural vehicles, all terrain vehicles, etc., to meet the needs of various terrain.
At present, curiosity's tires are made of solid aluminum. Although they are strong, they are not enough to prevent a flat tire or damage to the tread. And the "super elastic tire" allows Rover like curiosity to carry heavier equipment on Mars or the moon and explore a wider area.
"Super elastic tire" is made of shape memory alloy, which can travel smoothly on rough ground. When the tyre encounters a protrusion such as a stone, it will react in a way of temporary deformation, and then it will return to its original state without permanent damage.
