Axis - Smart Shoe Insert
Client:
IMA
Project Type: Product Development
In 2024, I was very lucky to be able to take a smaller prototype shoe insert I developed and expand it into IMA’s first in house custom hardware solution for Adidas. The idea behind the product was to help the local markets activate digital tools inside there stores and a lower prices than building a bespoke solution for each local markets stores activation. The product development process would be lead by myself and supported by the team a Bang Creative , who are an expert product design agency in this field.
The entire project was to be developed and produced in fully 6-7 weeks for the first generation of devices and later in the year we used additional 4weeks to develop a second generation of shoe insert with a friendlier adjustable strap. The software was produced to connect to a unity instance so we could build and explore visual tools in a gaming engine that fitted into the current studio work process, and we continued to develop the software that interfaces the hardware.
The Build
The first product type was developed around a Arduino nano and a MPU6050 IMU, that was connected to unity viva a USB serial, and send over it recorded quaternion as a string, that unity would split into a target rotation. Once we found out Adidas wanted to order a 50 units for round one, i reach out to a Bang to support in the development of both a PCB and 3d printed housing.
The PCB actually uses the same ATmega microcontroller as Arduino prototype as well as the MPU, however it does use a different USB controller. We started with 10 prototypes PCB to test to concept, but the main challenge came to the physical insert housing that I pushed to be 3d printed and to use hardware like screws, cables etc that would in theory be order in low batches. This was to allow us to maintain the ecosystem which ordering large batch amount of certain components.
Using 3D print UK as well as JLCP over 6 weeks we manage to build 75 units, including there down shipping boxes and manuals. However the main developed time was spent in unit, to create easy to use debug, user guide embedded into the experiences we expect markets to use. This software would be worked on between builds , but the core idea was to make it plug and play, while making any issues debug in a clear on easy to coms way. This help identify issues with units and builds across the EU and china with relative easy.
Next Steps
The Smart shoe insert continue to be developed on, and the software is getting better and better for each build. In the long term I hoping to refresh the physical PCB with some new components to include an absolute orientation sensor to the devices would self track without set up, and build around a ESP32 so I could connect to the devices using 2.4GHz wifi and make the unit work in a more hidden way.