Omni-directional wheels that allow cars and other vehicles to go laterally as well as backwards and forwards and even turn 360 degrees have been around for some time. They are mainly used in forklifts. But forklifts and other vehicles have to be specially designed to have wheels with this feature.
William Liddiard, who calls his invention “Liddiard Wheels,” says his wheels are different. First reported by Gizmodo on Wednesday, Liddiard says his wheels can simply be bolted on to any car without any modification to the vehicle. He put them on his Toyota Echo and uploaded a video to YouTube of his car’s performance. The video shows the Echo travelling slowly sideways and then turning completely around.
The tires are similar to regular ones and are made of standardized rubber and have regular treads. Liddiard says the rims are mechanical, the tires role inward upon themselves and the wheel is powered by electricity from the car’s battery. Currently the car’s direction is controlled by a switch although Liddiard is considering using a joystick to make it easier to steer the car in all directions.
The tires are designed to function in all kinds of weather.
The use of Liddiard Wheels would enable a driver to not only get into tight spaces with ease but to parallel park by simply stopping beside an empty space and then driving the vehicle sideways into the parking space.
The Verge reports Liddiard admits his invention needs some refinement. Currently it delivers over 24,000 pounds of torque, more than a tank. Liddiard said the gearing will have to be changed from his prototype in order to give the car more speed.
Liddiard is currently looking for manufacturers to make and help market the wheels and feels with mass production, the Liddiard Wheels would not be much more expensive than regular wheels.
