One or more wheel apparatuses are provided. The wheel apparatus comprises one or more rigid climbing members that extend to the outer perimeter of the wheel apparatus and are configured to maintain shape and/or relative position over all surfaces the wheel apparatus encounters. The wheel apparatus comprises one or more selective flex zones located adjacent to rigid climbing members, constructed to be passively compressed when the wheel apparatus encounters an obstacle in the path of the wheel apparatus. The wheel apparatus comprises one or more support zones located adjacent to selective flex zones that provide support for smooth rotary motion when not traversing obstacles.

A wheel having a hub and a circular ring is provided. The circular ring has a central axis, an outer surface having a first outer edge and a second outer edge, and a plurality of holes disposed on the outer surface. Additionally, the wheel has a plurality of spokes each being adapted to attach to both the hub and the circular ring, and each of the plurality of spokes being concaved and arranged in an alternating pattern. A plurality of lugs is disposed on the outer surface of the circular ring, and each of plurality of lugs has a first leg and a second leg, each extending from a center rib and a lug plate adapted to connect the first leg to the center rib.

A wheel having a plurality of lugs mounted in side-by-side positions forms a circular ring where each of the lugs has laterally extending legs forming a V-shape aligned with a rotational axis of the wheel. The lugs may have an outfacing rib aligned with the rotational axis and a further outfacing rib orthogonal to the rotational axis. A circular tensioning cord or strip may join the plurality of lugs. The lugs may be mutually offset around the circular ring in a sinusoidal pattern.

An automotive vehicle wheel and brake system includes a wheel axle, an angularly split wheel drum, the wheel drum including at least two separate wheel segments that are each radially movable, and a deforming actuator system including a deforming actuator to displace at least one of the wheel segments relative to at least another segment in such a way that an outer circumference of the wheel is temporarily deformed. The deforming actuator system also includes an electronic system that, during at least one predefined braking process, triggers the deforming actuator system so as to impose a temporary shape deformation of the split wheel drum.

An automotive vehicle wheel and brake system includes a wheel axle, an angularly split wheel drum, the wheel drum including at least two separate wheel segments that are each radially movable, and a deforming actuator system including a deforming actuator to displace at least one of the wheel segments relative to at least another segment in such a way that an outer circumference of the wheel is temporarily deformed. The deforming actuator system also includes an electronic system that, during at least one predefined braking process, triggers the deforming actuator system so as to impose a temporary shape deformation of the split wheel drum.

A wheel having a circular ring is provided. The circular ring has a rotational axis and an outer surface. A plurality of lugs is mounted in side-by-side positions on said outer surface of the circular ring. Each lug of the plurality of lugs has: a center rib, a first leg and a second leg, each leg extending from the center rib laterally and opposite of each other, and a plate adapted to connect the first leg to the center rib. The outermost point of each center rib may form a circular pattern that is coaxial with the rotational axis. The wheel may have a rim nested within said circular ring, said rim having a plurality of alternating scalloped protrusions. The plurality of lugs may include high traction lugs having plates with distal edges configured to radially extend beyond the center rib to provide traction to the wheel on difficult terrain.

A wheel having a hub and a circular ring is provided. The circular ring has a central axis, an outer surface having a first outer edge and a second outer edge, and a plurality of holes disposed on the outer surface. Additionally, the wheel has a plurality of spokes each being adapted to attach to both the hub and the circular ring, and each of the plurality of spokes being concaved and arranged in an alternating pattern. A plurality of lugs is disposed on the outer surface of the circular ring, and each of plurality of lugs has a first leg and a second leg, each extending from a center rib and a lug plate adapted to connect the first leg to the center rib.

An auxiliary drive mechanism for moving a motor vehicle through mud, sand or snow includes an axle, one or two central hubs perpendicular to the axle and parallel with a pair of drive wheels for rotation about the axle. The mechanism also includes four to six outwardly extendable arms fixed to the central hub and rotatable therewith as well as a plurality of arc-shaped drive members with one of the drive members fixed to each of the outwardly extendable arms. Each of the outwardly extendable arms further includes a piston and a mass of hydraulic fluid for extending the arms outward beyond the diameter of a vehicle's drive wheels and tires. The mechanism further includes a mechanism for increasing a flow of hydraulic fluid to the pistons.

The wheel is all-metal, and is suitable for use on the moon. The wheel includes tread-plates mounted on leaf-springs, which deflect to permit suspension movement. The leaf-springs are flexible, light, and thin, yet are made strong enough to cope with heavy traction forces by the provision of hoop-cables, which link all the tread-plates together.

The wheel is all-metal, and is suitable for use on the moon. The wheel includes tread-plates mounted on leaf-springs, which deflect to permit suspension movement. The leaf-springs are flexible, light, and thin, yet are made strong enough to cope with heavy traction forces by the provision of hoop-cables, which link all the tread-plates together.