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.

Soles for articles of footwear including a mechanically anisotropic three-dimensional mesh. The mechanically anisotropic three-dimensional mesh can include one or more mechanically anisotropic regions with a first lattice shear modulus measured in a first direction and a second lattice shear modulus measured in a second direction opposite to or orthogonal to the first direction. The first and second lattice shear moduli are different to provide the three-dimensional mesh with mechanically anisotropic properties. The mechanically anisotropic three-dimensional mesh can be three-dimensionally printed.

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 monitoring system a user activity sensor to determine patterns of activity based upon the user activity occurring over time.

An insole with embedded sensing system includes a pressure sensing layer arranged on the insole, an infrared sensing layer arranged inside the insole, and a sensing module installed inside an arch pad integrated with the insole. The sensing module is electrically coupled with the pressure sensing layer and the infrared sensing layer for receiving and processing detected electronic signals.

A visual assistance system or distance and location detection system is provided. The system comprises a sensor detecting distance of objects in a user's path and alerting the user when an object is within a designated proximity to the user. The system further comprises a location detection system using GPS technology that tracks the user's location and issues an alert to the user or other individual when the user's location exceeds the boundaries of a designated safe zone.

A personal monitoring system includes one or more passive biometric sensors and a communication device. A passive biometric sensor is operable to sense a body condition of a body in accordance with a sense signal at a sense frequency to produce sensed data of a body condition. The passive biometric sensor is further operable to transmit an e-field signal via the body regarding the sensed data, wherein the e-field signal is in accordance with an e-field transmit/receive frequency. The communication device is operable to receive the e-field signal via the body. The communication device is further operable to recover the sensed data from the received e-field signal.

A piezoelectric energy hunting device and a voltage signal application system thereof are disclosed. The piezoelectric energy hunting device includes a plurality of curved piezoelectric elements, a plurality of rigid foams, and a flexible foam structure. The plurality of curved piezoelectric elements are arranged side by side with one another, wherein each curved piezoelectric element is attached to one of the rigid foams. The flexible foam structure includes a top foam and a bottom foam covering the outer surface of the plurality of curved piezoelectric elements and the plurality of rigid foams; when the flexible foam structure is compressed, the plurality of curved piezoelectric elements are simultaneously deformed, thereby generating a voltage signal. When the flexible foam structure is not compressed, the flexible foam structure and the plurality of rigid foams provide an elastic force to restore the plurality of curved piezoelectric elements.

A fatigue relief method using smart footwear and an operation method for a user terminal are provided. The fatigue relief method using smart footwear comprises: receiving the provision of pressure data or acceleration data measured while a user wears smart footwear and performs an exercise, wherein the smart footwear has at least one pressure sensor or acceleration sensor and a tactile element, which are installed therein; estimating the fatigue of the user by using the provided pressured data or acceleration data; selecting one of a plurality of vibration solutions on the basis of the estimated fatigue; and allowing the tactile element of the smart footwear to vibrate according to the selected vibration solution.

A fatigue relief method using smart footwear and an operation method for a user terminal are provided. The fatigue relief method using smart footwear comprises: receiving the provision of pressure data or acceleration data measured while a user wears smart footwear and performs an exercise, wherein the smart footwear has at least one pressure sensor or acceleration sensor and a tactile element, which are installed therein; estimating the fatigue of the user by using the provided pressured data or acceleration data; selecting one of a plurality of vibration solutions on the basis of the estimated fatigue; and allowing the tactile element of the smart footwear to vibrate according to the selected vibration solution.