A vehicle includes a frame including a front frame part and a rear frame part. An elongated single wheel is rotatably connected to one of the front frame part and the rear frame part. The elongated wheel houses an expansion device including a linkage mechanism adapted to reconfigure a shape of the elongated wheel between a cylindrical shape in top view of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a straight direction and a frustoconical shape in top view of the vehicle in a turning condition of the vehicle.

A bicycle wheel includes a hub, a rim and spoke members extending between the hub and the rim; the hub comprising a plurality of hub members, wherein the wheel comprises three or more sectors, each sector comprising a circumferential rim section, an axial hub member and one or more spoke members extending between the hub member and the rim portion, wherein the wheel may be moved between a deployed configuration and a fully collapsed configuration, wherein in the deployed configuration the rim portions form a continuous circular rim of the wheel, wherein in the fully collapsed configuration the rim portions are arranged side by side in an axially adjacent arrangement, and wherein the hub members engage and form an axially expandable or collapsible hub.

A bicycle wheel includes a hub, a rim and spoke members extending between the hub and the rim; the hub comprising a plurality of hub members, wherein the wheel comprises three or more sectors, each sector comprising a circumferential rim section, an axial hub member and one or more spoke members extending between the hub member and the rim portion, wherein the wheel may be moved between a deployed configuration and a fully collapsed configuration, wherein in the deployed configuration the rim portions form a continuous circular rim of the wheel, wherein in the fully collapsed configuration the rim portions are arranged side by side in an axially adjacent arrangement, and wherein the hub members engage and form an axially expandable or collapsible hub.

An embodiment vehicle includes a wheel having a width that is changeable and a controller configured to generate a control signal for changing the width of the wheel. The wheel includes an inner wheel connected to an axle of the vehicle, an outer wheel connected to the inner wheel, and a driver. The driver is configured to move the outer wheel along a longitudinal direction of the axle of the vehicle to change the width of the wheel by generating power in response to the control signal.

An embodiment vehicle includes a wheel having a width that is changeable and a controller configured to generate a control signal for changing the width of the wheel. The wheel includes an inner wheel connected to an axle of the vehicle, an outer wheel connected to the inner wheel, and a driver. The driver is configured to move the outer wheel along a longitudinal direction of the axle of the vehicle to change the width of the wheel by generating power in response to the control signal.

A wheel and a vehicle each having a simple structure and capable of moving over a step while maintaining stability at flat ground traveling are provided. A wheel includes an outer ring that rotates about a wheel rotational axis, an arm drive gear that rotates independently from the outer ring about the wheel rotational axis, and an arm capable of rotating about an arm rotational axis fixed to the outer ring, the arm being configured to partially protrude outside from an outer peripheral surface of the outer ring in a radial direction as the arm drive gear rotates relative to the outer ring in one direction (normal rotational direction) and to be housed inside in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring as the arm drive gear rotates relative to the outer ring in the other direction (reverse rotational direction) opposite to the one direction.

A wheel and a vehicle each having a simple structure and capable of moving over a step while maintaining stability at flat ground traveling are provided. A wheel includes an outer ring that rotates about a wheel rotational axis, an arm drive gear that rotates independently from the outer ring about the wheel rotational axis, and an arm capable of rotating about an arm rotational axis fixed to the outer ring, the arm being configured to partially protrude outside from an outer peripheral surface of the outer ring in a radial direction as the arm drive gear rotates relative to the outer ring in one direction (normal rotational direction) and to be housed inside in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring as the arm drive gear rotates relative to the outer ring in the other direction (reverse rotational direction) opposite to the one direction.

A variable compliance non-pneumatic wheel which comprises a stationary tubular body (32) attached to the vehicle chassis. A tubular member is freely rotatable relative to the stationary tubular body and has a series of peripheral mounting rods (12, 13) on sides of the wheel. A plurality of interconnected and freely rotating caterpillar-like tiles (5), which are in contact with the ground during wheel operation, are coupled to the outer periphery of the wheel. A plurality of connecting spring members, (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), each connecting a specific mounting rod on a side of the hub (1, 2) are configured to connect the tiles (5) to the hub. The tubular member is split in two parts (1, 2) which are each free to rotate relative to one another. Each part carries approximately half number of mounting rods and connecting springs on a respective side of the wheel.

A variable compliance non-pneumatic wheel which comprises a stationary tubular body (32) attached to the vehicle chassis. A tubular member is freely rotatable relative to the stationary tubular body and has a series of peripheral mounting rods (12, 13) on sides of the wheel. A plurality of interconnected and freely rotating caterpillar-like tiles (5), which are in contact with the ground during wheel operation, are coupled to the outer periphery of the wheel. A plurality of connecting spring members, (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), each connecting a specific mounting rod on a side of the hub (1, 2) are configured to connect the tiles (5) to the hub. The tubular member is split in two parts (1, 2) which are each free to rotate relative to one another. Each part carries approximately half number of mounting rods and connecting springs on a respective side of the wheel.

Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.