Smart Shoe

Problem

The measurement of athletic performance has become increasingly popular among amateur athletes. Nike has developed "smart" shoes that calculate exercise-related data for the person wearing the shoe. In 2012, Nike announced the "Hyperdunk," a shoe that can measure a person's vertical leap.
Is it possible to design and fabricate a similar product using common tools and inexpensive, readily-available components?

Conceive

Project Goal: Design a shoe (or attachable device) that will determine the height of a wearer's jump (vertical leap).

System Requirements:

• The jump height should be accurate to +/- 1 inch.
• Device must be compact and light since it will be in or on the user's shoe.
• Packaging must fit all components snugly so accelerometer does not move (would cause incorrect measurements).
• Device must calculate height and display value to the user.

Design

Implement

Operate

Demonstrated at USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, DC in 2014.
Link to operating instructions document.

Demo

Include photos/videos from Projects Day and USA Science & Engineering Festival.

Next Steps

• Improve robustness of internal circuitry to vibration, failed solder joints, etc.
• Add on/off switch to extend battery life and eliminate need for opening/closing case.
• Optimize case design.
• Improve attachment to shoe.
• Minimize device size by using smaller battery (e.g. button cell).
• Create matching case for receiver unit.