A system for analysis of user gait and to provide correction in form of haptic and visual feedback. This system comprises a motion and force sensors and a haptic actuator embedded in the user shoe insoles in communication with a smart-phone based analysis application, configured to calculate motion and orientation of the user feet in relation to the value, location and distribution of ground reaction forces measured by sensors located in the shoe insoles and after analysis of said forces and motion, to provide haptic feedback to the user foot instructing about the location (and timing) of pressure the user must apply to achieve an optimal gait.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

A shoe energy collecting device includes a shell, a piezoelectric assembly, an elastic component, a magnet array, a base, a supporting block, an upper friction assembly and a lower friction assembly. The shell includes a supporting shell and a plastic shell connected in sequence. The base is provided below the supporting block in the supporting shell, the lower friction assembly is provided between the supporting block and the base. The upper friction assembly is provided on an inner wall of a top surface of the plastic shell. A coil is provided on a lower surface of the lower friction assembly at a side of the plastic shell, and the magnet array is provided below the coil. The piezoelectric assembly is provided in the plastic shell, the elastic component is provided on a side wall of the plastic shell away from the supporting block, and connected with the piezoelectric assembly.

A shoe energy collecting device includes a shell, a piezoelectric assembly, an elastic component, a magnet array, a base, a supporting block, an upper friction assembly and a lower friction assembly. The shell includes a supporting shell and a plastic shell connected in sequence. The base is provided below the supporting block in the supporting shell, the lower friction assembly is provided between the supporting block and the base. The upper friction assembly is provided on an inner wall of a top surface of the plastic shell. A coil is provided on a lower surface of the lower friction assembly at a side of the plastic shell, and the magnet array is provided below the coil. The piezoelectric assembly is provided in the plastic shell, the elastic component is provided on a side wall of the plastic shell away from the supporting block, and connected with the piezoelectric assembly.

An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

A wearable system, such as a footwear system, can employ a generator. The generator can be powered by human movement, such as movement of knee as a person walks or runs. When the knee resets, it can be desirable to have a relatively equal gear ratio to achieve near natural movement. Conversely, it can be desirable to have a high gear ratio when the knee pushes off to achieve high generator rotation to produce a high amount of power. This can be achieved with employment of a wearable planetary gear set configuration In practicing this wearable planetary gear set, torque can be provided from the source (e.g. human ankle joint) when power negative and not at other times during a movement cycle, meaning energy can be harvested from the walking motion without inducing additional burden to the device wearer.

Sensors, actuators, energy sources, and data processing for enabling artificial intelligent (AI) integrated automated features of intelligent electronic shoes are provided. The intelligent footwear can gather information from the shoe and send the data to a user interface for monitoring the physical activities of the wearer. A smart thermal actuation system can control the internal temperature of the shoe to offer a comfortable experience to the user. Intelligent footwear can also have systems for multipurpose sensing and actuation modules, which can use energy harvested by the user locomotion or by an energy source accompanied by artificial intelligence to gather and process information for ensuring an enhanced user experience.

Sensors, actuators, energy sources, and data processing for enabling artificial intelligent (AI) integrated automated features of intelligent electronic shoes are provided. The intelligent footwear can gather information from the shoe and send the data to a user interface for monitoring the physical activities of the wearer. A smart thermal actuation system can control the internal temperature of the shoe to offer a comfortable experience to the user. Intelligent footwear can also have systems for multipurpose sensing and actuation modules, which can use energy harvested by the user locomotion or by an energy source accompanied by artificial intelligence to gather and process information for ensuring an enhanced user experience.

An athlete monitoring system includes body position beacons, a localized radar system, a foot force detection system, and a processing module. The beacons are positioned at various locations on the body of the athlete. The localized radar system creates a localized radar coordinate system in which the athlete is positioned and, at a first sampling rate, produces frames of body position data based on determining location of the beacons within the localized radar coordinate system. The foot force detection system generates frames of left foot force data and frames of right foot force data. The processing module correlates the frames of body position data, the frames of left foot force data, and the frames of right foot force data to produce integrated ground-body interaction data and athletic movement data.