Assessing gait is something usually accomplished through an expensive, stationary device. Existing wearable insoles suffer from problems with flexibility, accuracy, and sensitivity. Insoles embedded with tiny sensors may soon diagnose problems with the way you walk. The research team is taking the first steps toward bringing this invention to market.

Using an ultra-flexible, self-healing polymer will make the team’s insoles durable and allow the array of sensors to conform to the feet, offering three-dimensional mapping of gait. They will also be Bluetooth capable, so they can send data wirelessly for interpretation or analysis. The device will also be cheaper to manufacture than other sensing devices currently on the market and the platform used for the sensor array can be adapted in the future for other wearables with health and fitness applications.