Vehicle tire manufacturer Bridgestone has reached an agreement with space robotics firm Astrobotic Technology to collaborate on a new tire for the latter’s lunar rovers, company officials announced.
The partnership will design Bridgestone tires for Astrobotic’s 24U CubeRover, which will transport scientific payloads and experiments on the moon, as well as provide them with power and communications capabilities.
The 24U, the companies said, was designed with dynamic suspension, explicit steering, and long-range communications in order to withstand the harsh terrain and conditions on the lunar surface. It is about the size of a standard kitchen stove.
Bridgestone has already built concept models of first- and second-generation lunar tires. The forthcoming tire would feature metal spokes with an elastic structure, enabling the system to deform in order to drive over lunar rocks or other obstacles. In addition to helping smooth out the ride, the tire would also ease stress on the rover drivetrain.
Bridgestone officials said the company is committed to being an essential part of the future mobility environment, and that its legacy of innovation — including those in motorsports and other extreme conditions — would help it meet that pledge.
Bridgestone and Astrobotic indicated that they plan to ensure the tires qualify for both space and launch conditions in “the near future.”
Related:
Bridgestone to Build Ohio Plant for Non-Fossil-Based Synthetic Rubber
Bridgestone, Goodyear Developing Advanced Tire That Could Track Road Conditions in Real-Time
Address:Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China
TELL:
E-MAIL:yang@kongjiangauto.com
E-MAIL:gedcs868@gmail.com