A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

A smart shoe has a height-adjustable heel having a plurality of co-axially oriented, concentric cylindrical wall sections of progressively different diameters comprising a skeleton framework. The wall sections are extendable from a collapsible position wherein the wall sections substantially completely overlap in an axial direction to an extended position wherein the walls sections are extended in an axial direction. Heel height is determined by the number of uncollapsed wall sections. A controller element provides incremental heel height adjustments through the sequential collapse of one wall section at a time starting with the uppermost wall section. The smart shoe includes reversibly expandable components for automatically modifying its width, length, and arch support height to provide an optimal fit of both shoes comprising the pair of smart shoes at every selected heel height.

A smart shoe has a height-adjustable heel having a plurality of co-axially oriented, concentric cylindrical wall sections of progressively different diameters comprising a skeleton framework. The wall sections are extendable from a collapsible position wherein the wall sections substantially completely overlap in an axial direction to an extended position wherein the walls sections are extended in an axial direction. Heel height is determined by the number of uncollapsed wall sections. A controller element provides incremental heel height adjustments through the sequential collapse of one wall section at a time starting with the uppermost wall section. The smart shoe includes reversibly expandable components for automatically modifying its width, length, and arch support height to provide an optimal fit of both shoes comprising the pair of smart shoes at every selected heel height.

An active suspension orthotic support system is disclosed. The suspension orthotic support system comprises at least one variable resistance beam extending from a heel section to a mid-arch section of the footwear, wherein rotation of the variable resistance beam from a first position to a second position causes a resistance provided by the variable resistance beam to vary between a minimum resistance to a maximum resistance.

An active suspension orthotic support system is disclosed. The suspension orthotic support system comprises at least one variable resistance beam extending from a heel section to a mid-arch section of the footwear, wherein rotation of the variable resistance beam from a first position to a second position causes a resistance provided by the variable resistance beam to vary between a minimum resistance to a maximum resistance.

Sensors capable of sensing shear and normal forces and suitable for measuring reaction forces on a body region of an individual, and systems and methods. Such a sensor includes a first plate and multiple second plates that are separated from the first plate by a dielectric material to define multiple capacitor units that are each responsive to normal and shear forces applied to the sensor. Each capacitor unit comprises an individual second plate of the second plates and a portion of the first plate that is superimposed by the individual second plate. The second plates are superimposed on the first plate so that a shear force applied to the sensor causes a first portion of at least one of the second plates to not be superimposed on the first plate while a remaining portion of the second plate remains superimposed on the first plate to define a superimposed area therebetween.

Sensors capable of sensing shear and normal forces and suitable for measuring reaction forces on a body region of an individual, and systems and methods. Such a sensor includes a first plate and multiple second plates that are separated from the first plate by a dielectric material to define multiple capacitor units that are each responsive to normal and shear forces applied to the sensor. Each capacitor unit comprises an individual second plate of the second plates and a portion of the first plate that is superimposed by the individual second plate. The second plates are superimposed on the first plate so that a shear force applied to the sensor causes a first portion of at least one of the second plates to not be superimposed on the first plate while a remaining portion of the second plate remains superimposed on the first plate to define a superimposed area therebetween.

Systems, apparatus, and methods related to an automated footwear platform including motor control techniques. The motor control techniques can include operations such as operating a motor to produce different operating characteristics based on incoming battery voltage. More specifically, the control technique compares incoming battery voltage to a threshold voltage and selects from at least two target operating characteristics. If the voltage transgresses the threshold the motor is controlled to produce a first operating characteristic, and if the voltage does not transgress the threshold the motor is controlled to produce a second operating characteristic.

Systems, apparatus, and methods related to an automated footwear platform including motor control techniques. The motor control techniques can include operations such as operating a motor to produce different operating characteristics based on incoming battery voltage. More specifically, the control technique compares incoming battery voltage to a threshold voltage and selects from at least two target operating characteristics. If the voltage transgresses the threshold the motor is controlled to produce a first operating characteristic, and if the voltage does not transgress the threshold the motor is controlled to produce a second operating characteristic.