Smart Shoe Ground Flatness Detection via Distance Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals engaging in outdoor activities face risks of falls and sprained ankles due to uneven ground conditions such as bumps, holes, or obstacles, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A shoe equipped with a sensing unit and a control unit that continuously measures the distance to the ground, calculates statistical values of these measurements, and determines ground flatness by comparing these values to predetermined standards, with the option to alert the user of uneven terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shoe is designed without electronic sensing and control components, then the shoe structure remains simple and manufacturing cost is low, but the shoe cannot detect uneven ground conditions to prevent falls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single wearable device: the shoe body incorporates both traditional protective functions and electronic sensing/control functions for ground detection. The sensing unit, control unit, and power supply unit are integrated within the shoe structure, allowing the shoe to serve as both footwear and a safety monitoring system, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic components (sensing unit, control unit, power supply unit) are nested within the shoe body structure. The sensing unit is disposed in the shoe body, the control unit is disposed in the shoe body, and the power supply unit is disposed in the shoe body, creating a compact integrated system that minimizes additional complexity while enhancing safety functionality.
2Measurement precision
If continuous ground distance measurement is implemented, then ground flatness can be accurately detected, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is configured to calculate statistical values of measured distances within a predetermined period and compare these statistical values with predetermined standards. This periodic processing approach allows continuous measurement while managing power consumption by processing data in intervals rather than continuously, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous measurement but processes information selectively by calculating statistical values (such as averages or variations) over predetermined periods rather than processing every single measurement in real-time. This partial processing approach maintains detection accuracy while reducing the computational load and power consumption associated with continuous full-processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The shoe effectively reduces the risk of falls by accurately detecting uneven ground conditions and providing timely warnings to the user, thereby enhancing safety during outdoor activities.
Implementation Method 1
The sensing unit is electrically connected to the power supply unit for receiving the electric power therefrom, is disposed in the sole of the shoe body, and is configured to continuously measure a distance to a ground
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe includes a shoe body, a power supply unit, a sensing unit and a control unit. The power supply unit is disposed in the shoe body and is configured to provide electric power. The sensing unit and the control unit are electrically connected to the power supply unit for receiving the electric power therefrom. The sensing unit is disposed in the shoe body and is configured to continuously measure a distance to a ground. The control unit is configured to communicate with the sensing unit, to calculate a statistical value of a plurality of measured distances that are measured by the sensing unit within a predetermined period, to obtain a comparison result by comparing the statistical value with a predetermined standard, and to determine that the ground is uneven in response to determining that the comparison result is greater than a predetermined value.