The spider wheel is a mecanum wheel - designed so that it can roll backwards and forwards the same way a traditional wheel does, but also so that it can move in any direction without the entire rover rotating. It accomplishes this by using eight rollers that line the circumference of the wheel, giving another way the wheels can turn and propel the rover. The rollers are also textured to provide extra traction for Mars's surface. In addition to being held together by the rollers themselves, the rims are bound together by eight thin “legs” on either side that are built to be thin and flexible. Designed to be agile, yet enduring, the spider wheel is ideal for off-world exploration.
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