A Control System for Bionic Shoes

Abstract

The fact that many residences and businesses lay beyond an easy walking distance to a public transit stop is known as the ”last mile problem”, and is a barrier to better utilization of a rapid transit network. Alternative modes of transportation including bicycles, Segway, scooters, and motorcycles all promise to fill this gap, but none of them have really solved this problem due to their risky nature or difficulty to use. In this thesis, we present the development of a control system of a pair of bionic shoes that enable average pedestrians to walk twice as fast. The experience is similar to walking on the moving walkway - shoes adapt to your gait thereby making them a natural extension of your legs. In this thesis, we described an interdisciplinary approach through customer development, design thinking and addressing key bipedal walking challenges.