Power Laces- the Auto lacing shoe

UPDATE:  You can help bring Power Laces to market!  Click here to Support the Future!

Also, check out Power Laces: Version 2.0



Why wait until 2015?

Inspired by 'Back to The Future II', this project is less 'Practical' than 'Proof of Concept', but hopefully it'll tide you over until Nike comes out with something more polished.

This was also the first time I worked with an Arduino microcontroller, and I wanted to get some experience with the little guy.

Operation is quite simple- step into the shoe and a force sensor reads the pressure of your foot and activates two servo motors, which apply tension to the laces, tightening the shoe. A touch switch reverses the servos.

Due to budget constraints, I only modified one shoe. Where did I put that darn sports almanac?!

And if you get a chance, vote for me in the Instructable USB contest!

Step 1 Parts & Tools

Parts:

A shoe  // a hightop with a lot of padding and undersole seemed easiest to work with and modify

Arduino  // I used the Duemilanove

Motor shield // The kit from adafruit.com works great, and allows control of multiple types of motors

Force sensor // Also got this from adafruit.com

Servo Motors  // again, also from adafruit.com.  Gotta save on that shipping whenever you can!

Sheet metal // about 4" x 4", enough to keep it's shape but easily trimmed with shears

LED and a couple of resistors  //  I only had  1K's laying around, so that's what I used

9 Volt case, with built in battery clip and switch

Insulated copper wire // I used high and medium gauge

Plastic zip ties, various sizes  // I went through a lot of these

Plastic 1/2" cable loops  // used for organizing cables

1/8" braided nylon paracord  // 10' should be enough


Tools:

Just the basics- soldering iron, screwdrivers, etc.  A hot glue gun is handy, too.

Misc:

A USB A to B cable and a computer to load the Sketch to the Arduino.

Comments

[baconmonster1999]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ive been wanting to get a set of these all my life!!!!!
when i was older i loved experimenting with time machines

[jimmytvf]

wow, wonderful. a better finish will be, puting a pic microcontroller and the servo in the sole, this way you cannot see all the stuff on the back, its ugly to see

[blakebevin]

google Power Laces v2.0 ;)

[jtroyetsky]

does arduino uno work?

[jtroyetsky]

This inspired me to make my own version in the future with it built in to the shoe though ill post a pic when I'm done

[baterman]

hey i saw the version 2 ill pay big bucks for those

[klessy]

Hey, where's version 2?

[ewhite fox]

GREAT SCOTT!!!!!!! i'll have 2 try it

[mattglas]

Can you please help I can't find the Motor shield or the Servo Motors I looked at adafruit.com but no luck can you give me a link to them or tell me the names? Also where can I get the shoes

[purplemutant]

Servo motors can be found at any RC hobby shop. Pololu also carries servos.

[tofu4tortoise]

i literally died laughing at the photo of the arduino and the airport caption you have quite the sense of humor haha

[superduperdrew]

so...did you posses your computer?

[tofu4tortoise]

yea my soul went into the computer and i'm processing like there's no tomorrow

[eoutlaw]

Oh snap! Those are so cool. My brother loves Back to the Future, and I want to make these for him. I'll probably mess them up though and e-mail him this Instructable saying, "I tried." :-D Nice job!!!

[tylerx74]

give me a link to buy these shoes plz :)

[twistedhickey]

Very interesting, I wouldn't want a pair though. Ever heard of velcro?

[jdelgado1]

I need a pair!!! xD

[Coolshoe]

Do you have to use the motor shield

[exterminator]

Your HOT!!!!

[sammyrs2000]

nice shoes

[Cobalt59]

Incredible. To make it more compact, use an Arduino Nano or similar model. (Ardweeny)

[laserdude]

cool

[ghostwritter]

Genius. absolute genius.

[offdawall67]

i'm a huge shoe fan and to see something this cool makes me wanna go and build this, I swear, the first time I saw Back to the Future, I was like "I want those shoes!", good job!

[kaciy11]

the 2.0 is EPIC. nike has nothing on you. good luck!

[finnrambo]

http://www.boatechnology.com/products found you a competitor, though that is a very good idea

[kaciy11]

that. is AWESOME. find a way to make the tying thing smaller and you'll be rich.

[flexoduss]

YOUR HOT :D

[Pearsoned]

very nice
http://windesing.ru

[mattglas]

And where can I get the shoes I could not find them

[mattglas]

Can you help me I can't find these parts
Motor shield

Force sensor

Servo Motors   
I looked on adafruit.com but no luck can you help me

[mwayi]

its great to see such type of innovations it would really help the disabled i love that part as for children let them learn how tie shoes its part of exercise to bend their back and hands on the races.But is it not heavy now with all the gadgets behind it.By the way i really love the innovation part shows u are using ur brain wise i hope someday u will develop an amazing machine that will save this world.
all the best

[MrHanimi]

Oh My Lord.
I almost cried when i saw the version 2.0 video
Where can i get these :')

[typenamehere_____]

see site title - instructables.  If you love it so much, why don't you marry it - err- I mean make it.

[MrHanimi]

ohh.. is there one for the 2.0s ?

[typenamehere_____]

Actually, I didn't notice until afterwards, but he does want to market them: Back up to the top

[drbill]

Velcro Works........... I'm just sayin'.

[typenamehere_____]

You didn't need to put the whole arduino on there - http://www.instructables.com/id/The-RRRRRRRRRRBA-or-What-They-Dont-Teach-You-in-/

[GMer56]

Not like the sports almanac would do much good. Its only for 1950-2000 :(
Does the motor keep constant pressure on the laces, or does it tighten them and just relax?
Either way, I think it could be simpler, but that is just me: Do things as cheap as possible and make sure it looks good.

[mr monoply33]

Step 7:
Do I see the Ubuntu Matrix screen saver? :D