Inspired by the Japanese art of paper cutting, MIT researchers created a shoe coating that prevents nasty falls on slippery surfaces.
In the case of MIT's kirigami shoes, the paper cutting technique helped the researchers to create a coating that remains flat while a person is standing still, but opens up into small spikes during natural foot movement. The intricate pattern used can be applied to a thin sheet of metal or plastic.“The novelty of this type of surface is that we have a shape transition from a 2D flat surface to a 3D geometry with needles that come out,” Babaee says.
including ice, wood, vinyl flooring, and artificial turf. They found that all of the designs boosted friction, though the best result came from a pattern of concave curves. Using a force plate, an instrument that measures the forces exerted on the ground, the team then tested volunteers using the shoes and found that the amount of friction generated was 20 to 35 percent higher than the friction generated by normal shoes.reports, the scientists are now considering whether to design shoes that already have the coating incorporated, or whether to create a thin sheet that can be applied when needed.
The researchers say the coating could help the elderly as well as people who work on slippery surfaces, such as wet or oily environments.“We’re looking at potential routes to commercialize the system, as well as further development of the system through different use cases,” Traverso says. Falling on your face and being the butt of your friends' jokes might become a thing of the past. More importantly, this clever technology could help prevent accidents for the elderly as well as people working in hazardous environments.Stay ahead with the latest science, technology and innovation news, for free: