Omnidirectional wheels are nothing new as far as the technology is concerned. However, practical application has yet to hit the streets. A Canadian inventor offers his idea on how it can be used.
William Liddiard fitted what appears to be a Toyota Echo with his own take on the omnidirectional wheel concept. His omni-wheels do not require extensive modifications to the car and can simply be bolted on. They are also designed to function in various weather and road conditions while having the same build as regular tires, reports The Verge.
The wheels on his demo video are prototypes but he is hoping to sell the idea to big companies like Honda or Goodyear. Liddiard says that his current design still needs a lot of improvement despite being able to deliver 24,000 pounds of torque. This rotational force is far greater than a tank can produce.
While horsepower equivalent to a tank sounds impressive, it is the parallel parking prospects that will pique the interest of motorists. Alfred Bayle