NEWS · B2 Level - Part 1

New Wheels Help Wheelchairs Climb Stairs

Engineers in South Korea have reinvented the wheel. At the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials,

Level: B2 · 16 sentences

Transcript

1. Engineers in South Korea have reinvented the wheel.
2. At the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials,
3. they've come up with a wheel that doesn't stay round in order to maximize mobility.
4. These wheels morph into new shapes to give wheelchair users the ability to drive anywhere.
5. Researchers say it's the first of its kind.
6. Depending on the surface it's rolling over, this rigid wheel will go soft,
7. allowing the wheel to overcome obstacles like uneven pavement.
8. These wheels can even climb stairs.
9. According to the project's principal researcher,
10. traditional wheels are designed to retain a rigid circular shape for stability on flat surfaces,
11. which limits their ability to overcome obstacles.
12. However, our wheel maintains its round form on flat ground
13. and softens only when navigating obstacles,
14. which is its major distinguishing feature from conventional wheels.
15. Scientists expect to see this new technology used for robots
16. and personal mobility devices like wheelchairs.