Adidas has developed the world's first "smart shoe" that uses a microprocessor to adapt the shoe's cushioning level to a runner's size, stride and comfort. Adidas 1 , the smart shoe is the result of a closely-held, four-year project at the European company's U.S. research and development headquarters in Portland, Ore. Adidas claims its smart show will revolutionize long-distance running and training. This great innovation adds to the company’s prestigious list of seven hundred patents and other intellectual property rights.
CONCEPT
“It senses, understands and adapts”. The shoe provides intelligent cushioning by automatically and continuously adjusting itself. It does so by sensing the cushioning level, using a sensor and a magnet. It then understands whether the cushioning level is too soft or too firm using a micro processor. It adapts with a motor-driven cable system to provide the correct cushioning throughout the run.
TECHNOLOGY
It works like a human reflex nerve. The nerve is a magnetic sensing system, where the sensor sits just below the runner's heel and the magnet is placed at the bottom of the midsole. On each impact, this sensor measures the distance from top to bottom of the midsole (accurate to .1 mm) gauging the compression and therefore the amount of cushioning is being used.
Underneath the arch is a microprocessor (20 MHz). The entire microprocessor kit weighs less than 40 grams, or about 10 percent of an average weight of running shoe. The design seeks for reduce weight and drag for long-distance runners. The algorithms, that are designed specifically for the shoe compares the compression messages received from the sensor to a preset zone and understands if the shoe is too soft or too firm.
Once it has determined if the cushioning level is appropriate, it sends a command to the shoe's muscle to make a change.
A motor-driven cable system is the shoe's muscle. The motor, housed in the mid foot, receives the processor's instructions and adapts by turning a screw, which lengthens or shortens a cable. This cable is secured to the walls of a plastic cushioning element. When the cable is shortened, the cushioning element is tensed and only a little compression is allowed (becomes firm). When the cable is longer, it allows the cushioning element to compress further, making the shoe's ride softer. A small battery, which is replaceable and lasts for 100 hours of running, provides the motor's power. The changes are gradual and happen automatically, so all the runner notices is that, the shoe feels right during an entire run. For manual adjustments, two buttons have been provide that will let the user, adjust compression resistance up or down.
After thousands of hours of prototyping and testing, it has been declared that, it can endure the wear-and-tear of running on surfaces ranging from pavement, dirt trails or even beaches. This technological innovation is surely a positive step toward ‘the next-generation of running shoes’. I am sure, no one could help your selves from finding out on first-hand, whether having a little computational power would make any difference in our daily workout
Once it has determined if the cushioning level is appropriate, it sends a command to the shoe's muscle to make a change.
A motor-driven cable system is the shoe's muscle. The motor, housed in the mid foot, receives the processor's instructions and adapts by turning a screw, which lengthens or shortens a cable. This cable is secured to the walls of a plastic cushioning element. When the cable is shortened, the cushioning element is tensed and only a little compression is allowed (becomes firm). When the cable is longer, it allows the cushioning element to compress further, making the shoe's ride softer. A small battery, which is replaceable and lasts for 100 hours of running, provides the motor's power. The changes are gradual and happen automatically, so all the runner notices is that, the shoe feels right during an entire run. For manual adjustments, two buttons have been provide that will let the user, adjust compression resistance up or down.
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