Softwheel Technology: The Reinvention of the Traditional Wheel

Softwheel has revolutionized the traditional wheel, offering a smoother and more comfortable ride for all.

Softwheel technology is transforming the way we think about wheels, offering a revolutionary alternative to traditional hard-rubber or metal wheels. Unlike conventional wheels that rely on rigid structures and hard surfaces, Softwheel uses a unique suspension system built into the wheel itself, allowing it to absorb shocks and vibrations. This innovation is particularly impactful in industries like transportation, where the comfort and efficiency of movement are crucial. Whether on bicycles, wheelchairs, or even electric vehicles, Softwheel technology ensures a smoother ride by reducing the impact of uneven surfaces, potholes, and rough terrain. Its self-contained suspension system makes it both efficient and low-maintenance, marking a significant leap forward in wheel design.

The beauty of Softwheel technology lies in its ability to blend mechanical engineering with practical user experience. The wheels’ shock-absorbing properties improve stability and comfort, while their design reduces wear and tear on both the vehicle and its occupant. For people using wheelchairs or other mobility devices, this innovation is a game-changer, providing a more comfortable and less physically demanding ride. In the realm of transportation, Softwheel-equipped vehicles can offer enhanced performance on city streets, where smoothness and durability are often compromised. As this technology evolves, it could redefine everything from urban commuting to industrial applications, proving that a small change in design can lead to big improvements in efficiency and user experience.

You may love riding bikes, but you would never approve of the back pain that comes with it. Softwheel Technology just reinvented the wheel with shock absorption benefits allowing the riders to adapt, be flexible, and be adventurous.

The Softwheel is the gift of an Israeli farmer Gilad Wolf who broke his pelvis in 2008. His love for his crops forced him to turn his wheelchair into a workhorse. He began to develop new wheel designs to allow him to travel on his wheelchair off the roads, without the severe back pain that comes with a conventional wheelchair.

The lack of suspension in a traditional wheelchair results in uncomfortable and fatiguing rides. The Softwheel website describes their technology very simply with the Newton’s third law. In a traditional spoke and hub wheel, all the forces exerted due to the obstacles cause vibration in the frame giving discomfort to the rider while slowing him down. The wheel, engineered and designed by Softwheel, provides reaction to these external forces from within the wheel.

The SoftWheel uses symmetric and selective technology, placing three suspension arms inside the wheel, that not only reduce vibration to the frame but also preserve the forward momentum. Four advanced techniques have to be incorporated in the wheel which the creators have named as; In-wheel suspension, Adaptive Rigidity, Rapid Shock Reset and the Single Piece Rigid Rims. The rider can traverse down the stairs as effortlessly as a ramp if the wheels can bear the worst of the forces.

The best part about the SoftWheel is its backward compatibility. You do not need to get a new wheelchair or a bicycle. You can replace the traditional wheels with the SoftWheel in no more than 10 minutes, like a plug and play device.

The SoftWheel CEO Daniel Barel said about the typical wheel, “Most of the time, the user is driving a rigid wheel with no suspension, and it breaks your back and shakes your filings loose.” Barel believes that ultimately their product could be applied to anything that has a wheel like cars, trains, cranes or even the airplane landing gear.

While the advanced applications may take a long time to develop, the SoftWheel is already in action to save the riders from the substantial fatigue of bike riding and wheelchair propelling. This technology may not exactly be a wheel reinvention but a significant step forward nonetheless.