Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers find a way to personalise running shoes to optimise performance using their new model
MIT engineers have created a model to revolutionise how runners select their shoes.
The model, outlined in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering study, predicts how specific shape properties impact a runner’s performance, considering factors such as height, weight and general dimensions.
The model, outlined in a study published in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, predicts how specific shoe properties impact a runner’s performance, considering individual factors such as height, weight, and general dimensions.
How does the model work?
The model incorporates key metrics like stiffness and springiness along the midsole and a runner’s basic dimensions.
By analysing a runner’s stride in different types of shoes, researchers can identify the footwear that optimises performance by minimising the energy expended by the runner.
The model’s potential lies in assisting shoe designers, especially those exploring customised 3D-printed footwear properties. MIT postdoc Sarah Fay highlights the significance: “Our model could help them design really novel shoes that are also high-performing.”
Struggles with the current model
While the current model excels in comparing very different shoe types, it faces challenges in determining subtle differences among commercially available running shoes.
Despite these limitations, the researchers envision in the future that customers can utilise a refined version of the model to choose shoes tailored to their unique running style.
“We’ve allowed for enough flexibility in the model that it can be used to design custom shoes and understand different individual behaviours,” Fay explains.
Finding your running style
The team aspires to reach a point where individuals can submit videos of their running style so that personalised 3D printed shoes can be created, which will improve their performance; the researchers describe this concept as the “moonshot.”
The model’s concept emerged from collaborations with the sneaker industry, particularly those engaged in commercial-scale 3D shoe printing.
Designers sought guidance on predicting a runner’s response to new shoe designs. So, the MIT team used inspiration from Thomas McMahomn’s simple “spring and damper” model from the 1970s to predict a runner’s gait dynamics with a similar approach.
Analysing running data
By analysing detailed measurements from a treadmill study, the researchers discovered that most runners unconsciously minimise two costs: the impact of their feet on the treadmill and the energy expended by their legs.
As the researchers plan to enhance the model’s understanding capabilities, the long-term goal remains influencing consumers to make informed choices about their running shoes based on personalised simulations. The MIT team envisions a future where cutting-edge technology meets individualised performance, marking a significant stride in the evolution of running footwear.
