An expandable and retractable wheel assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments includes a hub structure having a circular periphery and a rim expandable in circumference from a retracted circular position to one or more expanded circular positions. The rim engages and is supported by the circular periphery of the hub structure when in the retracted position. A plurality of linear actuators is attached to and supported by the hub structure. Each linear actuator includes a piston rod and a drive system for moving the piston rod from a retracted position to one or more extended positions, wherein a distal end of the piston rod engages and moves the rim when the piston rod is extended and also supports the rim in the one or more expanded rim positions.

An expandable and retractable wheel assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments includes a hub structure having a circular periphery and a rim expandable in circumference from a retracted circular position to one or more expanded circular positions. The rim engages and is supported by the circular periphery of the hub structure when in the retracted position. A plurality of linear actuators is attached to and supported by the hub structure. Each linear actuator includes a piston rod and a drive system for moving the piston rod from a retracted position to one or more extended positions, wherein a distal end of the piston rod engages and moves the rim when the piston rod is extended and also supports the rim in the one or more expanded rim positions.

A flexible wheel may include a flexible tire section which is deformable in a radial direction from a circumference thereof, and an anti-bending guide section coupled with the flexible tire section. The anti-bending guide section is connected to a driving shaft, and the flexible tire section and the anti-bending guide section are concentric. The flexible tire section includes a ring-shaped outer layer, one or more inner layers, and a plurality of spokes. In addition, the anti-bending guide section includes a plurality of plates, a hub, and a plurality of guides.

An adjustable airless tire system includes spring-loaded shock absorbers to provide suspension to absorb impact energy and damp spring oscillations; and a metallic hawser loop to transfer the impact energy from the spring-loaded shock absorbers of the ground contact surface of the tire to whole spring-loaded shock absorbers within the tire to maximize their suspension potential. A control component adjusts a tension and a size of the ground contact surface of the tire according to the road conditions, which improve its oil efficiency, comfortability, controllability and safety. An enhanced rim of a wheel keeps an appropriate distance from the tire to protect the spring-loaded shock absorbers and provide limited moving ability for the vehicle if the airless system loses their functions. A curved tire forms a closed space between the tire and the rim to prevent foreign objects from sticking between them.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between said inner rim and said outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include hydraulic dampers operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim.

A transformable wheel and method of transforming a wheel between open and closed positions. An exemplary transformable wheel may include a plurality of wheel segments (legs), including at least one passive leg and at least one active leg. The active leg(s) is actuated by a powered active leg transformation mechanism, while the passive leg(s) is actuated by a passive leg actuation mechanism that employs an elastic element, spring, or other passive actuator to automatically move the passive leg(s) toward the current position of the active leg(s).

A transformable wheel and method of transforming a wheel between open and closed positions. An exemplary transformable wheel may include a plurality of wheel segments (legs), including at least one passive leg and at least one active leg. The active leg(s) is actuated by a powered active leg transformation mechanism, while the passive leg(s) is actuated by a passive leg actuation mechanism that employs an elastic element, spring, or other passive actuator to automatically move the passive leg(s) toward the current position of the active leg(s).

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and permitting relative movement therebetween. The wheel assembly may also include a rigid inboard cover ring coupled to an inboard side of the outer rim and extending radially inward toward the inner rim. A flexible inboard seal may be coupled between the rigid inboard cover ring and the inner rim.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include a disk coupled to the inner rim. The wheel assembly may also include inboard lateral stops carried by an inboard interior surface of the outer rim, and outboard lateral stops carried by an outboard interior surface of the outer rim so that the inboard lateral stops and the outboard lateral stops cooperate to limit relative lateral movement of the disk and the outer rim.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim. At least one gas spring may have a controllable operating response.