Self-leveling footwear
The inventor has realized that there is a need for adaptive footwear that can respond to variations in surfaces on which persons travel or exercise. The adaptation can extend to self-leveling functions to resolve surface asymmetry. According to some aspects, footwear, and for example, athletic shoes, can be improved to adjust the height of a person's foot based on dynamic adjustments made in the sole of the footwear. According to some aspects, differences in striking height (e.g., a distance between the user's foot and the ground) between shoes can induce asymmetry in leg length resulting in medical issues. An athletic shoe can provide self-leveling functions to automatically adjusts the shoe to even out an asymmetry that is detected by embedded sensors.
1 . A pair of shoes, comprising at least one sensor configured to measure height data; at least one chamber disposed in a sole of a first shoe, the at least one chamber configured to manipulate a height of the first shoe; a valve configured to control a size of the at least one chamber and resulting height of the shoe; and at least one processor configured to access height data captured for the first shoe; access height data captured for a second shoe; and analyze the height data for the first and the second shoe over time to identify height asymmetry between the pair of shoes, the height asymmetry reflecting a difference induced by motion over an uneven surface.
2 . The shoes of claim 1 , wherein the height asymmetry is associated with a difference in leg length induced by motion over the uneven surface, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to reduce the asymmetry via inflation or deflation of the at least one chamber.
3 . The shoes of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to trigger operation of the valve of the first or the second shoe to reduce any identified asymmetry during movement.
4 . The shoes of claim 1 , further comprising a pump disposed in the sole of the first or the second shoe and wherein the at least one processor is configured to trigger operation of the valve or the pump.
5 . The shoes of claim 1 , further comprising a valve controller communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the valve controller is configured to open and close the valve responsive to control signals from the at least one processor.
6 . The shoes of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to trigger height adjustment to the first or the second shoe, responsive to determining that a threshold height asymmetry has been exceeded.
7 . The shoes of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to capture data for a first height associated with the first shoe at impact on the uneven surface associated with a leg length, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a difference between the first height of the first shoe and a second height of a second shoe associated with the second shoe at impact on the uneven surface associated with a respective leg length.
8 . The shoes of claim 1 , wherein the height of the shoe is based at least in part on a dynamic thickness of the sole of the shoe.
9 . The shoes of claim 1 , further comprising a communication component, the communication component configured to manage communication between the shoe and a mobile device or the at least one processor.
10 . The shoes of claim 9 , wherein the mobile device is configured to display a user interface, wherein the user interface is configured to accept user input to define a height asymmetry threshold for self-leveling operation.
11 . The shoes of claim 10 , wherein the height asymmetry threshold includes at least one of a number of consecutive uneven steps required before the height of the shoe can be adjusted, a threshold time period of consecutive uneven steps required, or a minimum threshold height asymmetry over a period of time or distance.
12 . The shoes of claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, and the first chamber is configured to be responsive to adjustments independently of the second chamber.
13 . The shoes of claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber comprises lateral sections, the sensor is a tilt sensor, and at least one section of the lateral sections is inflated to reduce a tilt detected by the tilt sensor.
14 . The shoes of claim 1 , further comprising a location sensor.
15 . The shoes of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to analyze location data and record height adjustments to the shoe for respective location data.
16 . The shoes of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to match the location data to a stored location and recorded height adjustments; and replay the recorded height adjustments.