Development of a cost-effective adjustable damping sole based on magneto-rheological fluids to provide diabetics with a customizable product-service which reduces foot stress and diseases

Foot diseases are indeed recognized as a wide societal problem and the large majority of people affected are women. This problem is particularly relevant if we consider that 25% of the diabetic population suffer from feet diseases and alterations. Our project aims at developing a novel ergonomie, comfortable, shock-absorbing and highly recyclable sole able to real time auto-shape itself based on magneto-rheological (MR) fluids.Our idea is to instantaneously and cost-effectively vary the stiffness and shape according to the different pressure produced while walking or running onto the different areas of the sole, through the application of a low-power micro-controller powered by embedded piezoelectric foils.