omni-directional FUJI ninja wheel wins GOOD DESIGN good focus award 2020

the FUJI ninja wheel is an omni-directional drive wheel that can travel in all directions, allowing automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to move in a manner not previously possible with regular caster wheels. in the face of global labor shortages and rising labor costs, the FUJI ninja wheel can help propel the next wave of ‘transportation culture’ forward. ideal for wheels of AGVs and self-propelled robots, the device combines functionality and future potential with a geometric and appealing aesthetic.

for its ingenuity, innovation and geometric design, FUJI SEISAKUSHO CO.,LTD. has won the GOOD DESIGN award 2020 good focus award in the category of transportation system and services.

‘the rotation of each of these wheels can be controlled separately, enabling movement in all directions,’ the GOOD DESIGN award 2020 jury evaluation states. ‘used in the logistics sector in automated guided vehicles, which are growing in importance, this item offers a dramatic increase in load capacity, despite having a smaller outer diameter than conventional wheels. we wish to offer high praise for the manufacturer’s success in achieving a very difficult target by exercising the ingenuity that it has cultivated over the years, as seen in the smooth rotation ensured by dividing the rollers in the center and offsetting the axles. the lean geometric design has an aesthetic appeal of its own.’

the FUJI ninja wheel comprises two types of wheels with half-barrel rollers tilted 45 degrees in the axial direction on their outer circumference. the device can move in all directions thanks to a motor attached to each wheel. ‘in particular, starting with the spread of the new coronavirus infection, we believe that the ‘movement and transportation methods’ of things in the future will be an opportunity to transform everyday life and lifestyles in any territory,’ says the team at FUJI. ‘[FUJI ninja wheel] will become a ‘civilized product’ that will be used as a matter of course in the near future, will evolve into vehicles such as automobiles and mobility, and will surely enrich people’s lives.’

project info:

award-winning item: FUJI ninja wheel

producer: yoshihide murakami, president, FUJI SEISAKUSHO CO., LTD.

director: atsushi nakahira, manager sales division, FUJI SEISAKUSHO CO., LTD.

designer: akiyoshi takai, managing director development design, FUJI SEISAKUSHO CO., LTD.

more information: GOOD DESIGN award outline

the GOOD DESIGN award was founded in 1957 by the japanese ministry of international trade and industry and is hosted by the japan institute for design promotion. the ‘g mark’ emblem reflects comprehensive design values and principles that aim to enrich lives, industries and society.