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Many running injuries are caused by continued use of improper or worn running shoes. The increase in incidence of injury can be directly correlated to the degradation of the materials used in shoe sole construction. The degree to which a shoe sole degrades is directly related to the changing elasticity of the material. Two different methods are proposed to measure elasticity in a shoe sole. Strain gauges and FlexiForce piezoelectric force sensor devices have been added to an integrated circuit that will indirectly measure shoe sole elasticity. Once calibrated, each circuit will have a diode that lights when a shoe sole is worn past its useful life. Future testing procedures and a schedule for the completion of the project can be found in the final report link on this website.
We have completed the final report and final presentation for this semester. We have the force sensors molded into a silcone mold which we tested in the Materials Testing Lab in Engineering Hall. Preliminary tests indicated that there was a problem with our circuit. We are currently trying to figuring out what exactly this problem is. Before summer we plan to acquire a strain gauge, integrate this into a silicone mold, and then run preliminary tests on it to make sure everything is working properly. First thing next semester we hope to begin testing on both prototypes to simimulate 500 miles of running wear. To see our planned schedule for next semester please use the link to the schedule in the projects and reports section of this website.
| Week | Reporting Period Beginning | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 3 | Group met first the time and exchanged info. Our client was contacted and research areas were diveded up between team members. |
| 2 | September 10 | We met with our client, Dr. Beebe, and he gave us direction in our research. |
| 3 | September 17 | Further research was done on shoe elasticity, wear indicating tooth brush bristles, running styles, piezoelectric force sensing film, and other indicator molecules. The team also began work on the PDS. |
| 4 | September 24 | Met with Prof. Webster to get information on piezoelectric film. Finished rough draft of PDS and continued research. |
| 5 | October 1 | Further research and brainstorming on the preliminary prototype. Began work on midsemeseter presentation and made a few minor changes to the problem design statement (PDS) |
| 6 | October 8 | Completed most of the work for the mid-semester presentation, and began work on the midsemester report. We are in the process of acquiring materials needed to construct the prototype. |
| 7 | October 15 | Completed the midsemester presenation and in the process of completing the midsemester report. Plans have been made to begin construction of the prototype the week following spring break. |
| 8 | October 22 | Completed mid-semester paper |
| 9 | October 29 | Organized group for the remainder of the semester and discussed some of the things talked about in the ethics discussion on Friday. |
| 10 | November 5 | Made list of parts with costs to take to client , and contacted several mechanics of materials professors about testing. |
| 11 | November 12 | Ordered force sensors and acquired parts for our circuits. Completed most of the breadboard circuits. Met with Professor Osswald and his grad students for help building test polymer. Worked out some of the test details through use of a pedometer. |
| 12 | November 19 | Accumulated necessary information to complete testing procedure. Contacted John Dreger in the materials testing laboratory to discuss possible ways to simulate running on our prototypes. |
| 13 | November 26 | Completed procedure for testing the prototype. Began work on timeline for the project for next semester. Completed all of the breadboard circuits and schematics. Began work on the poster presentation. |
| 14 | December 3 | Completed work on the poster presentation. Ran preliminary tests on the force sensor prototype, however, results were inconclusive which may indicate there is a problem with the circuit. |
| 15 | December 10 | Completed final poster presentation and continued working on the final paper. |
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Midsemester Power Point Presentation (Jan 11 2004, 382 kb) |
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Midsemester Report (Jan 12 2004, 850 kb) |
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Problem Design Statement (Jan 12 2004, 36 kb) |
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Final Poster Presentation (Jan 3 2004, 516 kb) |
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Schedule for Fall 2004 Semester (Jan 3 2004, 31 kb) |
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Final Paper (Jan 5 2004, 2781 kb) |
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FALL 2004 Midsemester Presentation (Oct 8 2004, 364 kb) |
