I'm not a runner, and I typically wouldn't consider spending $250 on sports shoes. But I found myself at the mall yesterday in the hopes of testing out the new adidas_1 "smart" shoes. After three years in the laboratory, Adidas officially launched the electronics-enabled shoes this month. If first-wave sales are an indicator (my local stores are sold out and don't expect more shoes until May), the company has a major success on its hands.
"Smart shoes" may sound gimmicky. But adaptive cushioning makes sense, and the design engineering behind the shoes is impressive. The shoe constantly adapts its shock-absorbing characteristics to customize its value to the individual runner, depending on running style, pace, body weight, and running surface. The shoe uses a magnetic sensing system to measure cushioning level, which is adjusted via a DSP that controls a motor-driven cable system.
A Hall effect sensor is positioned at the top of the "cushioning element," and the magnet is placed at the bottom of the element. As the cushioning compresses on each impact, the sensor measures the distance from top to bottom of mid-sole (accurate to 0.1 mm). About 1000 readings per second are taken and relayed to the shoe's microprocessor.
The MPU is positioned under the arch of the shoe. It runs an algorithm that compares the compression messages received from the sensor to a preset range of proper cushioning levels, so it understands if the shoe is too soft or too firm.
Then the MPU sends a command to a micromotor, housed in the mid-foot. The micromotor turns a lead screw to lengthen or shorten a cable secured to the walls of a plastic-cushioning element. When the cable is shortened, the cushioning element is pulled taut and compresses very little. A longer cable allows for a more cushioned feel. A replaceable 3-V battery powers the motor and lasts for about 100 hours of running.
The Portland, Ore.-based Adidas Innovation Team that developed the shoe was led by Christian DiBenedetto. It also included electromechanical engineer Mark Oleson, as well as a footwear developer and two industrial designers. Oleson explains that the team chose a magnetic sensor because it could measure the amount of compression in addition to the time it took to reach full compression.
Gathering sensor data, he says, meant little without building a comparative "running context." So one of the first steps in developing the MPU algorithms was building this database. Runners wore test shoes that gathered information about various compression levels during a run. Then the runners were interviewed to learn their thoughts about the different cushion levels. "When the two matched up, that helped validate our sensor," says Oleson.
IN THE "COMPRESSION" ZONE The development team found that most people prefer about the same amount of compression, so the focus was on building a system that could keep the shoe in a preferred compression zone, no matter the runners' speed, weight, or surface they were on.
According to Oleson, getting the algorithm right meant poring over reams of compression data, uploading the algorithm program onto the processor, testing it, correlating the results, and then testing again, adjusting not only the algorithm but also the adaptation mechanism.
Adaptations in the cushioning element account for the change of running surface and pace of the runner, and they're made gradually over an average of four running steps. The goal is for the runner not to feel any sudden changes. Adaptations are made during the "swing" phase rather than the "stance" phase of the stride (i.e., when the foot is off the ground).
If the shoe's owner prefers a more cushioned or a firmer "ride," adjustments can be made via "+" and "" buttons that also activate the intelligent functions of the shoe. LED indicators confirm when the electronics are turned on. (The lights do not remain on when the shoes are in use.) If the shoes aren't turned on, they operate like old-fashioned "manual" running shoes. The shoes turn off if their owner is either inactive or at a walking pace for 10 minutes.
The shoes also come with a "demonstration key" that lets users experience all the capabilities of the shoe. With the DemoKey, users can try the shoe in the softest setting and then quickly reset the shoe to the firmest setting to get a feel for the range of settings.
Kudos to Adidas for the thoughtful engineering behind these shoes. The company could have just thrown in some electronics for the sake of creating "intelligent" shoes. But that would have been a setback to the future of "smart clothing," what may soon be an important new market for electronic design.
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Lucy -June 12, 2008
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Lucy -June 12, 2008
Rating Only
Rating Only -July 04, 2007 (Article Rating: )
I think adidas design even shoe or t-shirt is very smart but i didn't like thier cost is very expensive to me. can adidas make a discount in one month...???
dniey -June 07, 2007
i really want to look shoes that is very smart at the adidas's shop.hehe
Anonymous -June 07, 2007
where is my visa i want my visa help me
cro boy -May 29, 2007 (Article Rating: )
this shoe is actually very comfortable, we bought it for our running coach last year as a gift and he loves them
Anonymous -September 23, 2006
baahh
Anonymous -February 18, 2006
My husband has a great design idea for Adidas. We would love to speak with Mark Oleson. We are going to be visiting family in Portland, Oregon from December 15 through the 20th. Our phone number is 904-823-0770. My husband's name is Peter Franzino
wld like to receive news letters on the [sports] shoe.apparel indusrty nd can you down load this page to my box for review later i cant cos of a problem here thank you ohio
Aohio -November 10, 2005
The article was really intresting and it helped me with my work. It would be really nice if you can put here how to test for grip and wear.
Anonymous -October 20, 2005
i was totally impressed with your technical article on the new adida concept. i work for the hexcel corporation and i do believe i remember some of our cell products were used in the heel design of the running shoe some time ago. small wonder the adida running shoe retail stores are sold out
harald bierke -August 12, 2005 (Article Rating: )
It's perfect. It's very nice but I hope to test it.
Rabei Hawili -August 02, 2005 (Article Rating: )
What a conversation piece! The concept is a great one; but realistically, how accurate are these things? Do they just set to one of the five presets and then stay there? I was expecting a full range of adjustablity; but only the heels adjust in these. I hope shoes will soon incorporate this idea to include cushioning in the forefoot as well. If we could get shoes that adjust the whole sole of a shoe, we'd really be into something. This Adidas_1 sounds like a 250.00 gimmick; but one heck of a start to something that could become quite grand! I'm saving my 250.00 until we get a shoe whose whole entire sole adjusts--thereby making a "smart shoe" that can play basketball just as quickly as it can switch to tennis.
Alfonze -August 01, 2005 (Article Rating: )
It's a very good shoe if it's working in this way.
Anonymous -July 31, 2005
Where can you buy Adidas "Smart Shoes"?
Emil Macsek -July 07, 2005 (Article Rating: )
Where do you buy "smart shoes."
Anonymous -April 24, 2005
Fascinating........I'm waiting now for a more intelligent hiking boot. Search and Rescue personnel like myself would certainly sit up and pay attention to that one. Not just to wear but also what differences we may see if tasked with tracking someone whose wearing them. Keep up the good (technological) work.......
Kevin -April 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )
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