Revolutionary Wheels Can Climb Stairs
reinvent the wheel: to waste time creating something that already exists and works well
When people say, “Don’t try to reinvent the wheel,” it’s usually good advice. But thankfully, scientists in South Korea didn’t listen—and the result could change lives.
Researchers have created a new kind of wheel called a “morphing” wheel in Korea. They work by adjusting their stiffness using a sensor. Inspired by how water droplets adjust to their environment, the wheels can also change shape to overcome obstacles. These wheels are so flexible they can handle bumps and even climbs. They’re perfect for wheelchairs, delivery vehicles, and robots. Lead researcher Song Sung-hyuk hopes to make these wheels fast enough to reach 100 kph, like a car.
Watch this reinvention of the wheel in the video below.
Sample sentences
The teacher told us not to reinvent the wheel and suggested using last year’s project ideas.
When designing the app, we avoided reinventing the wheel by using a popular template.
The company saved money by not reinventing the wheel and building on existing technology.
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The ‘morphing’ wheel from South Korea that may transform lives and robots