A wheel assembly includes a wheel including a spoke portion radially supporting a rim portion about a central axis, wherein the rim portion presents a radial outer surface relative to the central axis. A tire is mounted to the wheel and cooperates with the wheel to define a tire cavity between the radial outer surface of the rim portion and the tire. A foamed aluminum portion is supported by the wheel, and includes a plurality of pores arranged to define an open-cell foam. The plurality of pores of the foamed aluminum portion is disposed in fluid communication with the tire cavity to absorb noise from within the tire cavity. The foamed aluminum portion may be integrally cast with the wheel, or otherwise affixed to the wheel.

A wheel (10a, 10b) for amphibious vehicles (1) has a rim (100) and a tire contact surface (102) for driving over a solid surface. At least one float (101) designed to hold air and/or gas is provided on the wheel (10a, 10b) and, when required, able to be brought from a neutral position to a floating position. The float (101) is formed from numerous profiles (1010) pivotable at a defined angle (W) to the wheel plane (E) on the circumference of the rim (100) and/or on the circumference of a receiving means (1000) extending inside the inner circumference of the rim (100). At least one water-tight and flexible and/or elastic material (1012) is arranged on the profiles (1010) and/or connected to the profiles (1010) to form a floating cavity (1011).

A magnetically coupled ball drive system for actuation of spherical surfaces and wheels is disclosed. An internal support structure interacts with exterior drive wheels magnetically to produce rotational motion. A related improvement involving reduction of slip due to insufficient traction is also presented to establish a design for a more robust and versatile device that can be used in robotics or for producing vehicle locomotion.

A magnetically coupled ball drive system for actuation of spherical surfaces and wheels is disclosed. An internal support structure interacts with exterior drive wheels magnetically to produce rotational motion. A related improvement involving reduction of slip due to insufficient traction is also presented to establish a design for a more robust and versatile device that can be used in robotics or for producing vehicle locomotion.

Provided is a vehicle wheel with which it is possible to obtain a large propulsive force. The vehicle wheel comprises: a wheel portion to be mounted to a hub provided at the end of a drive axle for a drive wheel of the vehicle body; a wheel cover portion detachably mounted to the wheel portion; and a detach/attach mechanism portion that detachably fixes the wheel cover portion to the wheel portion. The wheel cover portion has a drum shape with a thickness in the shaft center direction of the wheel portion, and comprises a plurality of concave puddle portions in the peripheral surface portion thereof. The detach/attach mechanism portion includes: a plurality of mating recess portions provided on the wheel portion; a plurality of mating protrusion portions provided on the wheel cover portion so as to be matable with the plurality of mating recess portions; and a fixing portion that detachably fixes the mating between the plurality of mating recess portions and the plurality of mating protrusion portions. The fixing portion includes: a center screw hole portion provided in the wheel portion on the shaft center, a center hole provided in the wheel cover portion on the shaft center, a center bolt member that threadedly engaged in the center screw hole portion through the center hole; and a stopper screw for preventing the loosening of the center bolt member threadedly engaged in the center screw hole portion.

Provided is a vehicle wheel with which it is possible to obtain a large propulsive force. The vehicle wheel comprises: a wheel portion to be mounted to a hub provided at the end of a drive axle for a drive wheel of the vehicle body; a wheel cover portion detachably mounted to the wheel portion; and a detach/attach mechanism portion that detachably fixes the wheel cover portion to the wheel portion. The wheel cover portion has a drum shape with a thickness in the shaft center direction of the wheel portion, and comprises a plurality of concave puddle portions in the peripheral surface portion thereof. The detach/attach mechanism portion includes: a plurality of mating recess portions provided on the wheel portion; a plurality of mating protrusion portions provided on the wheel cover portion so as to be matable with the plurality of mating recess portions; and a fixing portion that detachably fixes the mating between the plurality of mating recess portions and the plurality of mating protrusion portions. The fixing portion includes: a center screw hole portion provided in the wheel portion on the shaft center, a center hole provided in the wheel cover portion on the shaft center, a center bolt member that threadedly engaged in the center screw hole portion through the center hole; and a stopper screw for preventing the loosening of the center bolt member threadedly engaged in the center screw hole portion.