McGill University researchers show off lunar rover prototype with unique 'iRing' wheels

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We've already seen researchers at the University of Chicago and
Cornell use coffee grounds to develop an entirely different type of
robotic hand, and it looks like some folks at McGill University in
Montreal, Canada have also been taking a similar approach to quite
literally reinvent the wheel. That's being done as part of the Lunar
Exploration Light Rover (or LELR) project, which is aiming to build a
lunar rover that's light and able to navigate difficult terrain (i.e.
the surface of the moon) with ease. One of the key aspects of that, of
course, are the wheels, and the McGill researchers' solution is
something called the "iRing" -- a wheel made of a chainmail-type
fabric and filled with "granular particulate matter" (or tiny pieces
of metal). That creates a wheel that's heavy and sturdy enough to
avoid bouncing around on the moon, but still flexible enough to absorb
shocks and overcome any obstacles. Will it actually wind up on the
moon? That remains to be seen, but the researchers expect the final
prototype of the complete rover (which could even carry a crew) to be
complete in the spring of 2012. Be sure to hit up the via link below
for the best look at the rover on video.