Elastomeric Smart Shoe

What is it?

A shoe that renders terrain dynamically. It give the ability of being able to give the user an experience of feeling rocks on the ground or a cobblestone road.

Where is it used?

This technology is a bi-product of another research developed in the University of Utah. They are creating an immersive system for rehabilitation purposes called TreadPort Active Wind Tunnel (TPAWT), which is capable of realistically displaying locomotion environments on varying slopes as well as providing controllable wind, heat, and odor display.

How Does It Work?

• 7 Chambers
• Sensors + Valves

There are 7 chambers in each foot, they use sensors and valves within the shoe to create varying degree of pressure. For example to Render cobbled road by keeping a specific chamber or set of chambers inflated while deflating others.

Not only could this be used to create a more immersive environment but one of the other applications it has is for patients with Parkinson's Disease. This technology's ability to change dynamically could be used for helping with stability.

Why is it a good use of VR?

• Immersion along with TPAWT
• Rehabilitation
• Previous Work loses slope

I think it’s a good use of VR because it does help with immersion. It's uses could vary from training with rough terrain or rehabilitation for patients. Previous work has only had a treadmill where the user feel the slope and other foot haptic displays have been developed using roller wheels in the feet but that would loose the slope. With this technology you're able to have both.

Critique

• Standing only studies
• Sensor issues
• Chamber issues -- Weight

Although it is a cool idea there were a lot of complications with the design. The paper says that there were a handful of studies and it was only used when standing. This is an on going study of research so it isn't perfect yet. There were issues with the sensors not being able to be read because of the added weight of the user. The chambers also collapsed and went to other chambers changing the terrain felt. There also is some concerns about how the weight of the user needs to be accommodated for every new user.

Conclusion

• 60% of users were able to feel the "rocks"
• Still new but step in the right direction
• Thanks!