How NASA Reinvented The Wheel - Shape Memory Alloys

Was the Mars Rover really lowered down by flying platform and hooks and winches?

That's kind of awesome!

We get to see the reveal of the memory metal 'tire' at 4:10 in the above video, a mesh tire made of what looks like a chain mail of nitinol. Then there's a great explanation of why nitinol is a super-elastic material (using our old friend, the stress-strain curve) and some nice atomic-level diagrams.

Then we get a bunch of close-up video of the wheel deforming and returning to its original shape.

It's a brilliant idea.