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Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) - Education - Nairaland

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Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by Nobody: 8:57pm On Mar 26, 2021
A tire startup has teamed up with NASA to bring the world’s first space-age alloy bicycle tires to the mainstream market.

The SMART Tire Company recently announced an innovative airless bicycle tire originally developed and tested by NASA for future Mars Rover missions. Dubbed METL, the revolutionary tire is made from smart memory metal that ,unlike stretching, rearranges its molecular structure when you bend it, but instantly goes back to its original shape.

It basically has the flexibility of rubber but is as strong as titanium, which means that you probably won’t have to change another bicycle tire in your lifetime.

“Wires are woven together to create an airless tire structure that has the ability to flex with the terrain, unlike current rigid wheels. The SMA (Shape Memory Alloy) material acts as a shock-absorber and can traverse rock-laden terrain effortlessly without breaking or damaging the tire,” NASA describes the underlying technology behind the METL tire.

Technically, the METL smart tire is really a rim with an outer edge made out of a super-elastic material called NiTinol+, which molds over bumps in the road but bounces back to its original shape almost instantly.

Manufactured using a process that heats the wheels to temperatures of over 500 degrees Celsius, METL tires are designed for extreme temperatures and the environments of planets like Mars. Thus, you can expect these airless tires to last a lot longer than regular tubeless tires.

The METL smart tire is the result of a NASA-sponsored initiative that challenged startups from the private sector to adapt its space-worthy innovations for real-world uses. One of these startups was the SMART Tire Company, which plans to commercially launch its innovative bicycle tires sometime next year.

You’re probably thinking that having a metallic tire come into contact with the asphalt isn’t a very good idea, and you’re right. That’s why the metallic component of the METL tire will not actually be in contact with the asphalt. The tire will be coated with a new kind of rubber-like material called Polyurethanium, which is suitable for all kinds of weather conditions, and offers great grip for superior handling.

The SMART Tire Company’s METL tires are expected to hit the market in 2022, but we currently have no information on pricing. I expect it will cost a bit more than traditional bicycle tires, though…
Source: https://www.odditycentral.com/news/nasa-inspired-bicycle-tires-never-go-flat-could-last-a-lifetime.html

2 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by Unseen(m): 9:33pm On Mar 26, 2021
Africa... When?

10 Likes

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by Red7: 9:39pm On Mar 26, 2021
Fahmurix
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by illicit(m): 9:45pm On Mar 26, 2021
I go buy....
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by Nobody: 10:17pm On Mar 26, 2021
Unseen:
Africa... When?
when you invent something bro

12 Likes 1 Share

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by Nbotee(m): 10:25pm On Mar 26, 2021
Our importers no go gree import dis one com Nigeria becos na bad market for dem

17 Likes 1 Share

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by inumidun2010(m): 10:48pm On Mar 26, 2021
Make dem no do the one for Cars because Baba Kudus go curse them ooo

5 Likes

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by sreamsense: 11:09pm On Mar 26, 2021
That's good innovation. But wait, no job for furcanizers again be that if it gets finally adopted because many people including drivers will prefer it so far is not too expensive
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by womenareapes1: 11:13pm On Mar 26, 2021
while Nigeria is commissioning sugar as covid vaccine

1 Like

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by cassidy1996(m): 11:29pm On Mar 26, 2021
good one
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by greymiles: 1:35am On Mar 27, 2021
Unseen:
Africa... When?

Go to the East and see little boys with great inventions
Nigerian media hate us, that’s why u don’t often see them

2 Likes

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by ProfAmaben(m): 6:46am On Mar 27, 2021
In Africa, Nigeria to be precise, it's all about who owns the biggest church and can contain 100,000 people in one service.

NASA is also a government owned institution but always sets the pace when it comes to extreme innovation. In Nigeria, not a single government owned establishment functions as it should. Nnpc, FIRS, Customs etc are all northern Nigeria's cash cow.

Shame.

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by engrchykae(m): 7:00am On Mar 27, 2021
Unseen:
Africa... When?
we have had our turn,they can never get to the height we attained,if inferioritis mentalitis is the sickness you are suffering,am sorry I cant treat you
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by engrchykae(m): 7:04am On Mar 27, 2021
ProfAmaben:
In Africa, Nigeria to be precise, it's all about who owns the biggest church and can contain 100,000 people in one service.

NASA is also a government owned institution but always sets the pace when it comes to extreme innovation. In Nigeria, not a single government owned establishment functions as it should. Nnpc, FIRS, Customs etc are all northern Nigerian's cash cow.

Shame.
fulanis are heading your country and you want to make a technological breakthrough,are you not funny?
Have you ever heard of a fulani inventor,poet, writer, academia,innovator?

7 Likes

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by SEGLIZ: 7:17am On Mar 27, 2021
Unseen:
Africa... When?

WHEN YOU, decide to WORK, STOP TALKING and STOP asking WHEN.

1 Like

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by MufasaLion: 7:33am On Mar 27, 2021
sreamsense:
That's good innovation. But wait, no job for furcanizers again be that if it gets finally adopted because many people including drivers will prefer it so far is not too expensive

Vulcanizers will still have customers.
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by MufasaLion: 7:35am On Mar 27, 2021
ProfAmaben:
In Africa, Nigeria to be precise, it's all about who owns the biggest church and can contain 100,000 people in one service.

NASA is also a government owned institution but always sets the pace when it comes to extreme innovation. In Nigeria, not a single government owned establishment functions as it should. Nnpc, FIRS, Customs etc are all northern Nigerian's cash cow.

Shame.

So shameful indeed!!!!. I keep saying that out government don't care. No matter the noise we make. I don't make noise anyways because I already understood Nigerian imaginary "system" because we have no system.
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by codedguy1(m): 7:42am On Mar 27, 2021
Fukanizers fit swear for these oyinbo people ooo grin
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by hakeemhakeem(m): 7:45am On Mar 27, 2021
greymiles:


Go to the East and see little boys with great inventions
Nigerian media hate us, that’s why u don’t often see them

you are not different from nig media why can't you pushed the guy through social media

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by mu2sa2: 8:40am On Mar 27, 2021
sreamsense:
That's good innovation. But wait, no job for furcanizers again be that if it gets finally adopted because many people including drivers will prefer it so far is not too expensive
It will definitely be expensive. But as time goes on the master-fakers will come up with "new, improved" versions of it that you can afford to buy - only that it won't last a lifetime, not even near it.

1 Like

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by Orire01(m): 9:14am On Mar 27, 2021
Tech.










I still sell affordable laptops with free delivery and pay on delivery.
Details on my signature
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by Lordpeckxy(m): 9:19am On Mar 27, 2021
Nice. I wonder if...
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by PerfectMatchNG: 9:31am On Mar 27, 2021
Unseen:
Africa... When?
Infinity!!! Ordinary electric car would struggle in Africa why no steady power supply especially in Nigeria

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Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by PerfectMatchNG: 9:32am On Mar 27, 2021
mu2sa2:
It will definitely be expensive. But as time goes on the master-fakers will come up with "new, improved" versions of it that you can afford to buy - only that it won't last a lifetime, not even near it.
This is not the best way to go, many foreigners are here, they read what we write and it's gives them am impression about Nigeria.

1 Like

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by PerfectMatchNG: 9:33am On Mar 27, 2021
hakeemhakeem:


you are not different from nig media why can't you pushed the guy through social media
Nigeria Media are the worst set of people, if you know the type of brown envelope that exchange hands.

You have FREE coin waiting! Join #Binance and we'll both get $50 of either KCS, KLV, ONE, EOS or BNB FOR FREE. Sign up with https://www.binance.com/en/register?ref=H1R24WDO
Use the link to register we both get FREE coins
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by mu2sa2: 9:54am On Mar 27, 2021
PerfectMatchNG:
This is not the best way to go, many foreigners are here, they read what we write and it's gives them am impression about Nigeria.
It's not Nigerians that will produce fakes. Substitute master-fakers for chinco.

1 Like

Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by SporaD8: 11:34am On Mar 27, 2021
wow! this one na waya!
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by haybhi1(m): 12:44pm On Mar 27, 2021
Ok, this is interesting and useful.

However, my reservations are aligned with its improvement. It's either marketing strategy that it lasts a lifetime or some hype.

Reason?
It's an alloy of iron, which is known to submit to rust after some time reacting with water and air. Hence reducing his life span.

I'd still suggest making a slim tensile cover of rubber over this state-of-the-art alloy tire. The rubber is stable to water and many other chemical substance/cpds on the road, hence it protects the metal from the natural process of rust. If the slim rubber tire gets worn out, it can be replaced easily.
Painting and galvanizing it are some more options but they don't last either.

Furthermore, the bitumen, stony surface of tarred roads can erode the metal inspite of the titanium over time. An external surface of thicker rubber tires well garnished in Sulphur should work this out Sha.
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by MOVIC6: 12:48pm On Mar 27, 2021
Nothing last forever
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by BennyDGreat: 2:29pm On Mar 27, 2021
greymiles:


Go to the East and see little boys with great inventions
Nigerian media hate us, that’s why u don’t often see them

Where in the east?
Re: Nasa-Inspired Bicycle Tires Never Go Flat, Could Last A Lifetime (Photos) by kumulus(m): 2:48pm On Mar 27, 2021
mu2sa2:
It's not Nigerians that will produce fakes. Substitute master-fakers for chinco.


I can't help but laugh at you rn fr....





Shame

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