Hypershoe: Variable-Stiffness Pods

Soft RoboticsPrototypingMATLAB

Project Overview

A soft-robotics project rethinking how shoes can store and release energy through smarter materials.

Focused on how structure and stiffness shape shoe response.
Blends hands-on prototyping and testing.

Design

Due to an NDA, I am unable to share specific details about the design.

Experimented extensively with Dyneema, TPU, and latex materials.
Evaluated tensile strength, hysteresis, and cyclic fatigue to determine optimal material behavior.

Testing

Utilized a custom-built drop-test rig to study impact dynamics, energy return, and material deformation.
Designed and executed controlled experiments to guide rapid prototyping.

Drop Testing Setup

Testing Image 1

Testing setup 1

Drop test rig schematic

Testing Image 2

Testing setup 2

Physical testing apparatus

Drop Data

Sole Image

Shoe sole design

Shoe placement configuration

Drop Data Graph

Drop test data

Force vs. displacement data

VO2 Data & Setup

VO2 Setup

VO2 testing setup

VO2 testing apparatus

VO2 Data

VO2 test results

VO2 TCCT 6mph test