Development of reprogrammable metamaterial midsole for footwear

Athletic footwear is designed to enhance performance, comfort, and injury prevention. Current midsoles provide a level of performance that cannot be changed after fabrication, forcing a user to wear different pairs of shoes, each specialized for a given sports activity. For example, running shoes require high energy return for efficiency, whereas basketball shoes prioritize energy dissipation to reduce impact forces. Consumers are forced to purchase multiple sport-specific shoes, increasing costs and environmental waste. This project aims to develop a reprogrammable midsole using a recently introduced reprogrammable metamaterial, enabling post-manufacturing adjustments of mechanical performance for multiple sports activities and user requirements. The project will identify the most appropriate additive process for manufacturing and conduct a range of mechanical and computational testing to characterize the reprogrammability and performance of the midsole. The partner organization will gain a significant competitive advantage by accessing cutting-edge adaptive footwear technology with strong commercialization potential.

Faculty Supervisor:

Damiano Pasini

Student:

Partner:

CXC

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Agriculture; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

McGill University

Program: