These 3D-printed shoes are robotic and can adapt to your feet

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Will SOLS ADAPTIV be the future of footwear?

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You may remember SOLS from last year, when the company debuted its 3D-printed corrective orthotics line. The New York City-based startup enabled users to scan of their feet using a smartphone app and submit the images directly to its database, thereby reducing the time required for the production process. More recently, the team has debuted their vision of “Instant Adaptability” footwear in a project they call ADAPTIV.

First launched during NBA All-Star Weekend, ADAPTIV is a 3D-printed piece of footwear that utilizes a system of embedded gyroscopes and pressure sensors that circulate air pressure and fluids throughout the shoe to support and adapt to a body’s every movement. Offering users complete customization, athletes and fashionistas alike will have the ability to minimize injury and color coordinate with any ensemble.

The high-tops are equipped with 3D-printed insoles inside, as well as air pockets to precisely tailor the fit and provide ultimate flexibility with every step. The futuristic boots themselves are comprised of a shell that was constructed by Shapeways using a nylon-like material called Elasto Plastic.

SOLS envisions a future of footwear that is not only custom made for your body and lifestyle, but also personalized for your every movement. Photos of your entire foot and ankle will be used to 3D print the footwear with Instant Adaptability, and soon enough, the color of shoes will even be able to morph to match your every outfit using color sensing cameras and adjustable RGB LEDs.

“Inspired by cutting edge advancements in soft robotics, we saw an opportunity to design a responsive cellular structure that mimics the wearer’s unique biomechanics while responding to movement. ADAPTIV is the next step in the evolution of footwear,” said Kegan Schouwenburg, CEO of SOLS. “300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away each year and I believe 3D printing has the potential to change that.”

The startup recently closed on a Series B round of $11.1 million from investors that include Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Tenaya Capital, and New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony’s fund, Melo7 Tech Partners. It’s no question that the future for smart clothing, including electronic textiles, looks promising. As to whether this system of soft robotics will be a key driver, time will only tell. Interested? Head over to SOLS’ official page here to learn more, or watch the video below.