{"678585":{"#nid":"678585","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Engineering the Origin of the Wheel","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESome historians believe the wheel is the most significant invention ever created. Historians and archeologists have artifacts from the wheel\u2019s history that go back thousands of years, but knowing that the wheel first originated back in 3900 B.C. doesn\u2019t tell the entire story of this essential technology\u2019s development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA recent \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/royalsocietypublishing.org\/doi\/epdf\/10.1098\/rsos.240373\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Estudy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E by Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/kai-james\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKai James\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Lee Alacoque, and Richard Bulliet analyzes the wheels\u2019 invention and its evolution. Their analysis supports a new theory that copper miners from the Carpathian Mountains in southeastern Europe may have invented the wheel. However, the study also recognizes that the wheel\u2019s evolution occurred incrementally over time \u2014 and likely through considerable trial and error. The findings suggest that the original developers of the wheel benefited from uniquely favorable environmental conditions that augmented their human ingenuity. The study, published in the journal \u003Cem\u003ERoyal Society Open Science,\u003C\/em\u003E has gained the worldwide attention of experts and more than 58 media outlets, including \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ct.moreover.com\/?a=55120414867\u0026amp;p=1pl\u0026amp;v=1\u0026amp;x=Nn7Ozxhhg37uXpWFulhboQ\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPopular Mechanics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ct.moreover.com\/?a=55102419746\u0026amp;p=1pl\u0026amp;v=1\u0026amp;x=_kLNRH7aRiViqfL4AYBuBg\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInteresting Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/ct.moreover.com\/?a=55113970190\u0026amp;p=1pl\u0026amp;v=1\u0026amp;x=fhgi-6KEXPwy_HmdSgcyVg\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENational Geographic\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E en Espa\u00f1ol.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe way technology evolves is very complex. It\u0027s never as simple as somebody having an epiphany, going to their lab, drawing up a perfect prototype, and manufacturing it \u2014 and then end of story,\u201d said James. \u201cThe evidence, even before our theory, suggests that the wheel evolved over centuries, across a very broad geographical range, with contributions from many different people, and that\u0027s true of all engineering systems. Understanding this complexity and seeing the process as a journey, rather than a moment in time, is one of the main outcomes of our study.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENecessity Is the Mother of Invention\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 3900 B.C., the Neolithic copper miners from the Carpathian Mountains lacked written language, and they were not advanced mathematically or scientifically. However, they discovered the wheel as a means to an end.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecently, archeologists uncovered a series of small drinking mugs that rolled on wheels. There were features on the mugs, like wickerwork patterns, indicative of woven basketry used by miners around 3900 B.C. These replicas represent the earliest known depictions of wheeled transport.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETools of Engagement\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJames and his team use computational analysis and design as a forensic tool to learn about the past, studying engineered systems designed by prehistoric people. Computational analysis offers a deeper understanding of how these systems were created.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe have to interpret clues from ancient societies without a writing system \u2014 artifacts like bows and arrows, flutes, or boats \u2014 but we need to use additional tools to do this,\u201d James explained. \u201cCarbon dating tells us when, but it doesn\u0027t tell us how or why. Using solid mechanics and computational modeling to recreate these environments and scenarios that gave rise to these technologies is a potential game-changer.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir theory suggests that the wheel evolved from simple rollers, which took the form of a series of untethered cylinders, poles, or tree trunks. These rollers were arranged side-by-side in a row on the ground, and the workers would transport their cargo on top of the rollers to avoid the friction caused by dragging.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cOver time, the shape of these rollers evolved such that the central portion of the cylinder grew progressively narrower, eventually leaving only a slender axle capped on either end by round discs, which we now refer to as wheels,\u201d James explained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers derived a series of mathematical equations that describe the physics of the rollers. They then created a computer algorithm that simulates the progression from roller to wheel-and-axle by repeatedly solving these equations. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur investigation also indicates that environmental conditions played a key role in this evolutionary process,\u201d he said. \u201cPrevious studies have shown that rollers are only effective under very specific circumstances. \u0026nbsp;They require flat, firm, and level terrain, as well as a straight path. \u0026nbsp;Neolithic mines, with their human-made tunnels and covered terrain would have offered an environment highly conducive to roller-based transport.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research was funded by National Science Foundation grant # 2311078.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECitation:\u003C\/strong\u003E Alacoque, L. R., Bulliet, R. W., \u0026amp; James, K. A. (2024). Reconstructing the invention of the wheel using computational structural analysis and Design. \u003Cem\u003ERoyal Society Open Science,\u003C\/em\u003E 11(10). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1098\/rsos.240373\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOther Research on the Horizon\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJames\u2019 research group is currently working to create algorithms to design aircraft structures for crashworthiness, focusing on helicopters. He uses these algorithms to design vehicles that can withstand impact with minimal structural damage and minimal passenger injury.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe is also designing 3D-printed morphing mechanisms. \u0026nbsp;These mechanisms contain active materials that change shape in response to heating. \u0026nbsp;By systematically combining active and passive materials in a precise spatial arrangement, James\u2019 group is able to encode specific motions into the material layout. In this way, they create specialized mechanisms that transform into pre-programmed shapes upon being submerged in a heated water bath.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/royalsocietypublishing.org\/doi\/epdf\/10.1098\/rsos.240373\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Estudy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E by Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/kai-james\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKai James\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Lee Alacoque, and Richard Bulliet analyzes the wheels\u2019 invention and its evolution.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A multidisciplinary team of researchers used structural mechanics and computational design to understand how the wheel was invented.  "}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2024-11-21 16:18:54","changed_gmt":"2024-11-21 16:30:14","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-21T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-21T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675698":{"id":"675698","type":"image","title":"cropped james kai.jpg","body":null,"created":"1732206039","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 16:20:39","changed":"1732206039","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 16:20:39","alt":"Ass","file":{"fid":"259352","name":"cropped james kai.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/cropped%20james%20kai_1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/cropped%20james%20kai_1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":308972,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/cropped%20james%20kai_1.jpg?itok=fmpsvkzj"}},"675694":{"id":"675694","type":"image","title":"Figure - Artifacts.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA series of small drinking mugs that rolled on wheels.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1732203452","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 15:37:32","changed":"1732203452","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 15:37:32","alt":"Artifacts","file":{"fid":"259347","name":"Figure - Artifacts.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Artifacts.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Artifacts.png","mime":"image\/png","size":245517,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Artifacts.png?itok=bpsOMeeR"}},"675699":{"id":"675699","type":"image","title":"Figure - Wheel Evolution 3.jpg","body":null,"created":"1732206426","gmt_created":"2024-11-21 16:27:06","changed":"1732206426","gmt_changed":"2024-11-21 16:27:06","alt":"Wheel Evolution","file":{"fid":"259353","name":"Figure - Wheel Evolution 3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Wheel%20Evolution%203.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Wheel%20Evolution%203.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":979228,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/21\/Figure%20-%20Wheel%20Evolution%203.jpg?itok=PT7zr9Ho"}}},"media_ids":["675698","675694","675699"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/09\/ae-professors-koki-ho-and-kai-james-named-associate-fellows-aiaa","title":"AE Professors Koki Ho and Kai James Named Associate Fellows by AIAA"},{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/georgia-tech-algorithm-headed-moon","title":"A Georgia Tech Algorithm is Headed to the Moon"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1239","name":"School of Aerospace Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1325","name":"aerospace"},{"id":"173670","name":"computational design"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003Emonique.waddell@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["monique.waddell@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}