A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive or magnetic sensor configured to sense changes in a body's proximity to the sensor in footwear. Characteristics of the sensed proximity can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot or about the footwear.

The pressure sensing mat including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may include a first conductive layer that may be sandwiched between a first non-conductive layer and a non-conductive layer that define a first set of channels that may at least partially enclose a first conductive strip that may extend in a first direction. The second portion may include a second conductive layer that may be sandwiched between a third non-conductive layer and a fourth non-conductive layer that may define a second set of channels that may at least partially enclose a second conductive strip that may extend in a second direction. The first conductive strip and the second conductive strip may form a capacitor that may be configured to provide a capacitance indicative of a pressure applied to the capacitor.

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.

A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a cylinder and a piston, a portion of which slidably disposed with the cylinder. A magnetic target is fixedly positioned relative to the piston, and a sensor is fixedly positioned relative to the cylinder. The sensor generates a signal according to the position of the magnet target relative to the sensor.

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.