Engineered outsole that never slips

With the help of engineers from MIT, USA, a new material has been developed that looks like a thin, flexible steel plate with a printed snake scale pattern. The main structure is dozens of overlapping scales, assembled according to the principle of the Japanese art of kirigami.

Initially, scientists assumed that their invention would help robots move around, but it turned out that it could make life easier for people too - for example, it would prevent the elderly from falling on slippery surfaces. Considering that falls are the main cause of death for old people (primarily from complications), the invention could save billions of dollars in medical treatment and insurance.

Engineers claim that this outsole is much more effective at preventing falls than spikes, and ice tests have proven this. The kirigami plate increases the friction between the shoe and the surface by 20% - 35%.

“When flat, the sole of this material remains smooth, but at the slightest bend - for example, when weight is transferred from heel to toe - all the scales stand on end and dig into the ground. At the same time, they weigh much less than the spikes, which are sometimes put on the shoes so that they do not slip. " Plus, such a sole is easier to install on boots, and it does not spoil the appearance.

The inventors believe that the use of such a plate in shoes will significantly reduce the risk of falls, which means many lives will be saved and billions in medical bills will be saved.

The art of kirigami is not limited to robotics. Together with their Chinese colleagues, scientists from MIT two years ago created a technology for the production of new optical sensors. Intricate cuts in the metal foil made it possible to selectively filter light with a specific polarization.

Inventors are looking for partners interested in commercializing new technologies and introducing them into everyday life.