Running with Nanotechnology: Nike Develops Shoes with Sensor Systems-Could Improve Quickness, Training or a Golf Swing

In the future, your shoes may be smarter than you when it comes to athletic training and may help make a person a better athlete or even improve a golf swing. 

Nike, Inc. (Beaverton, OR) has developed footwear with nano sensor systems in U.S. Patent Applications  20100063778  and  20100063779.  The shoes have a sensor system connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. Users can use the collected data for a variety of different uses or applications, according to inventors Allan M. Schrock, Matthew A. Nurse, Jeffrey C Pisciotta, Michael S. Amos, Andrew A. Owings and James C. Meschter.

The sensor system provides a wide range of functionality for a wide variety of applications, including gaming, fitness, athletic training and improvement, practical controls for computers and other devices.

The sensors are force sensors for measuring compression of the sole and/or force on the sole. For example, the sensors may be force-sensitive resistor (FSR) sensors or other sensors utilizing a force-sensitive resistive material (such as a quantum tunneling composite, a custom conductive foam, or a force-transducing rubber, described in more detail below), magnetic resistance sensors, piezoelectric or piezoresistive sensors, strain gauges, spring based sensors, fiber optic based sensors, polarized light sensors, mechanical actuator based sensors, displacement based sensors, and any other types of known sensors or switches capable of measuring compression of the foot contacting member, midsole, outsole.

Some sensors, such as piezo sensors, force-sensitive resistor sensors, quantum tunneling composite sensors, custom conductive foam sensors, etc., can measure differences or changes in resistance, capacitance, or electric potential and translate the measured differential to a force component. A spring-based sensor can be configured to measure deformation or change of resistance caused by pressure and/or deformation.

A fiber optic based sensor contains compressible tubes with a light source and a light measurement device connected thereto. In such a sensor, when the tubes are compressed, the wavelength of light within the tubes changes, and the measurement device can detect such changes and translate the changes into a force measurement.

 In such a fiber optic sensor, when the tubes are compressed, the wavelength of light within the tubes changes, and the measurement device can detect such changes and translate the changes into a force measurement. Nanocoatings could also be used, such as a midsole dipped into conductive material. Polarized light sensors could be used, wherein changes in light transmission properties are measured and correlated to the pressure or force exerted on the sole.

 One embodiment utilizes a multiple array (e.g. 100) of binary on/off sensors, and force components can be detected by "puddling" of sensor signals in specific areas. Still other types of sensors not mentioned herein may be used. It is understood that the sensors can be relatively inexpensive and capable of being placed in shoes in a mass-production process. More complex sensor systems that may be more expensive could be incorporated in a training type shoe. 

The sensors  and  leads also may be deposited on or engaged with a portion of the shoe structure in any desired manner, such as by conventional deposition techniques, by conductive nano-coating, by conventional mechanical connectors, and any other applicable known method.

Many of the sensor embodiments provide relatively low cost and durable options for sensor systems, so that a sensor system can be incorporated into articles of footwear with little added cost and good reliability. As a result, footwear can be manufactured with integral sensor systems regardless of whether the sensor systems are ultimately desired to be used by the consumer, without appreciably affecting price. Additionally, sole inserts with customized sensor systems can be inexpensively manufactured and distributed along with software designed to utilize the sensor systems, without appreciably affecting the cost of the software.

In one embodiment, third-party software developers can develop software configured to run using input from the sensor systems, including games and other programs. The ability of the sensor system to provide data in a universally readable format greatly expands the range of third party software and other applications for which the sensor system can be used. As a further example, the various sole inserts containing sensor systems, including liners, insoles, and other elements, permit interchangeability and customization of the sensor system for different applications. 

The sensor system has a wireless or contactless communication interface, such as an interface for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, near-field communication, RFID, Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee, or other wireless communication technique, or an interface for infrared or other optical communication technique. 

The data, or the measurements derived from the sensors may be useful for athletic training purposes, including improving speed, power, quickness, consistency, technique, etc.

The port, module , or external device can be configured to give the user active, real-time feedback. In one example, the port and/or module can be placed in communication with a computer, mobile device, etc., in order to convey results in real time.

In another example, one or more vibration elements may be included in the shoe, which can give a user feedback by vibrating a portion of the shoe to help control motion.  Additionally, the data can be used to compare athletic movements, such as comparing a movement with a user's past movements to show consistency, improvement, or the lack thereof, or comparing a user's movement with the same movement of another, such as a professional golfer's swing.

Further, the system may be used to record biomechanical data for a "signature" athletic movement of an athlete. This data could be provided to others for use in duplicating or simulating the movement, such as for use in gaming applications or in a shadow application that overlays a movement over a user's similar movement.

The system can also be configured for "all day activity" tracking, to record the various activities a user engages in over the course of a day. The system may include a special algorithm for this purpose, such as in the module, the external device, and/or the sensors.