Shoes-wearable foot mechanism mimicking characteristics of human´s foot arch and skin

In this study we describe a shoes-wearable foot mechanism which mimics human´s foot arch structure and the characteristics of the foot skin to examine the effect of the human foot on biped walking. We approximate the arch structure by a rotational spring and model the human´s foot skin with compression springs. The mimesis of the foot arch elasticity is realized by using compression springs. Regarding the characteristics of human´s foot skin, first we develop a measuring equipment to measure the human´s plantar transverse elasticity. We set the target value of the modulus of transverse elasticity of the foot skin to 11.2 N/mm, and we set the modulus of compression elasticity to 0.136 MPa, referring to a relevant study. The characteristics of human´s foot skin are mimicked by using a super-soft urethane resin called Hitohada-gel with 8 mm thick. Through evaluation tests we confirmed that the shoes-wearable foot mechanism could mimic well the characteristics of human´s foot arch and skin.