Julius Mackerle

Julius Mackerle (1909–1988) was a Czech engineer and inventor renowned for his work on air-cooled engines at Tatra Kopřivnice, where he served as chief designer after World War II, developing new engine concepts. In 1964–1970, he invented the Rotoped Walking Wheel, a revolutionary cross-country vehicle using inflatable rubber bags to simulate leg thrust, capable of climbing steep grades and proposed for lunar use. He later led a department at the Research Institute for Motor Vehicles.