| CPC A43B 3/46 (2022.01) [A43B 3/35 (2022.01); A43B 3/40 (2022.01); A43B 3/42 (2022.01); A43B 3/48 (2022.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. An intelligent automated footwear system, the system comprising:
a shoe having embedded therein a plurality of sensors and actuators, the plurality of sensor and actuators comprising:
a plurality of pressure sensors, each respective pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors configured to measure a respective contact pressure in a designated region of the shoe;
a first environmental sensor configured to measure an internal environmental parameter of the shoe;
a location or orientation sensor configured to measure a geospatial, positional, kinematic, dynamic, or orientation-related parameter of the shoe; and
a thermal actuator system configured to control an internal environmental parameter of the shoe;
a thermal management system connected to the thermal actuator system;
an alert system configured to provide a feedback, alert, or communication signal through the shoe;
a processor;
an in-built power supply configured to supply power as needed to operate the plurality of pressure sensors, the first environmental sensor, the location or orientation sensor, the thermal actuator system, the thermal management system, the alert system, and the processor;
an energy harvester configured to recharge the in-built power supply by harvesting energy from locomotion of a user of the shoe; and
a machine-readable medium in operable communication with the processor and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, perform the following steps:
receiving, by the processor, a setpoint for the internal environmental parameter of the shoe;
receiving, by the processor, a measurement of the internal environmental parameter of the shoe; and
sending, by the processor, a control signal to the thermal actuator system, to drive the measurement of the internal environmental parameter of the shoe to within a tolerance of the setpoint for the internal environmental parameter of the shoe,
the plurality of pressure sensors comprising a first pressure sensor disposed and configured to measure contact pressure in a region of the shoe where a heel of a foot of the user would be during use, a second pressure sensor disposed and configured to measure contact pressure in a region of the shoe where a ball of the foot of the user would be during use, and third through seventh pressure sensors disposed and configured to measure contact pressure in regions of the shoe where five toes, respectively, of the foot of the user would be during use.
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