Development of low-cost and disposable smart insole for daily gait analysis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22810
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 59:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: FUKUDA Hiroya 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 准教授 (90294256)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 歩行リハビリテーション / 歩行計測 / スマートインソール

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to measure in real time the ground reaction force and the center of plantar pressure, we have developed an inexpensive and simple gait measurement smart-insole by combining two or more commercially available inexpensive thin-film force sensors. Several mechanical properties, such as compressive load, shear force and bending stress, were made to evaluate the performance of commercially available inexpensive thin-film force sensors and a new designed triaxial shear force sensor. In addition, the estimating results of ground reaction force waveform and trajectory of the center of plantar pressure were verified experimentally over different footwear and walking pace on a group of subjects. It will be expected that the research results have been contributed to sports instruction and walking rehabilitation in the field.

Free Research Field

計測工学・人間工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究成果は，日常的に「歩き方」や「走り方」を把握することは勿論のこと，スポーツ指導の現場での利用，歩行リハビリテーションでの下肢機能の評価，術前・術後の比較分析を行う場面で貢献する。さらに，本研究で開発した歩行計測用スマートインソールの有用性を，方向転換，段差歩行など日常的に起こり得る突発的な動作や，高齢者や障害者で確認できれば，躓き・転倒メカニズムの解析や身体的弱者のための生活空間や住宅設計にも貢献すると考えられる。