Square wheel

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A literal square wheel is a wheel that, instead of being circular, has the shape of a square. A more common use is as slang, meaning stereotypically bad or naïve engineering (see reinventing the square wheel).

Animation of a square wheel rolling smoothly over inverted catenaries

A square wheel can roll smoothly if the ground consists of evenly shaped inverted catenaries of the right size and curvature. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

A different type of square-wheeled vehicle was invented in 2006 by Jason Winckler of Global Composites, Inc. in the United States. This has square wheels, linked together and offset by 22.5°, rolling on a flat surface. The prototype appears ungainly, but the inventor proposes that the system may be useful in microscopic-sized machines (MEMS). ^[4]

For other improbable wheels, see Reuleaux polygon.

[edit] References

1. ^ "Riding on Square Wheels", Ivars Peterson, Science News, Week of April 3, 2004; Vol. 165, No. 14.
2. ^ "A Catenary Road and Square Wheels", New Trier High School, Winnetka, Illinois
3. ^ "Non-Circular Wheels", Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations, University of Iowa
4. ^ "Square Wheel Car Propels Itself by Shifting Weight - Possible MEMS Locomotion", Global Composites Inc. press release, December 2, 2005 (with link to video of prototype)

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