Orbit

When slowing down makes you faster...(& smoother...) ADB (Autonomous Decentralized Bearing) is a patented technology developed by Sosuke Kawashima (Coo Space Co., Ltd.) By introducing a small indent into the outer race of a deep groove ball bearing, the balls become self distributing & non-contacting without the need of a cage. Translation: the balls don't bump into one another so no cage is required, which then means sliding friction is virtually eliminated, energy consumption is reduced by over 90%, and no lubrication is necessary. That precise indentation I mentioned slightly decelerates and then accelerates each ball back to full speed as it passes over it. A small gap is thus created between the balls due to this change in speed. Any incidental contact between the balls acts as a restorative force, effectively transferring momentum between them and ensuring uniform spacing naturally. Pretty cool stuff (and so very simple) in other words. This technology is currently touted as being applied in deep sea & competition skate/bike/wheelchair cases, but seems like a prime candidate for any super low friction, demanding environment, and/or long life applications. (All original video footage from Sosuke Kawashima on yt)