In today’s society, more and more people are beginning to pay attention to health and sports. Whether it is running, walking, hiking, or fitness, they have higher requirements for the comfort and functionality of shoes. In particular, some functional shoes designed for sports have become the focus of attention.
But do you know that a pair of sports functional shoes that really fit the feet and have professional support is actually inseparable from a “black technology” – a three-dimensional foot laser scanner.
This equipment is quietly changing the entire process of sports shoe design.
Traditional shoe design usually relies on standard shoe lasts, experience judgment, and a large number of trial tests to determine the foot shape and size. However, everyone’s foot shape is different, and the length, width, instep height, arch shape, and even the symmetry of the left and right feet may be different. If you rely solely on a universal template, it is difficult to meet the needs of the foot for support, shock absorption, and stability during professional sports.
The emergence of a three-dimensional foot laser scanner solves this problem.
It uses high-precision laser scanning technology to fully capture the three-dimensional shape of the entire foot in 5-20 seconds to form a complete three-dimensional foot model.
The scanning accuracy can reach the millimeter level, which is as detailed as the difference in toe length, the undulating angle of the arch, and the slight change in the height of the instep. For designers of sports functional shoes, such data is undoubtedly a treasure.
Based on the scanning results, designers can optimize the shoe last in a personalized way, adjust the arch support position, forefoot width, heel wrapping, and even design specific anti-deviated structures for people with inversion or valgus.
For example, for people with high arches, the arch support structure inside the shoe needs to be strengthened to alleviate the situation where the impact force is concentrated on the heel and forefoot; while for flat feet, it is necessary to strengthen the arch support and improve stability to avoid fatigue and pain caused by long-term exercise.
At the same time, combined with the needs of different sports for the force of the foot, the three-dimensional data of the foot can also guide the design of the sole pattern, the layout of the insole support structure, the distribution of the shock absorption area, etc., truly realizing “scientific exercise, starting from the foot”.
More importantly, the three-dimensional scanner can also record the changes in foot morphology for a long time. For example, the foot development trajectory of athletes during high-intensity training, rehabilitation, and even children during their growth can be fully recorded to provide data support for continuous design and adjustment.
The 3D laser scanner for the foot is not only a measurement tool, but also the “technical brain” behind the design of modern sports shoes. It speaks with data, making each pair of sports functional shoes fit your feet better and understand your gait better, making every run more stable, farther, and more powerful.
A pair of good shoes can really take you further. And a 3D laser scanner for the foot is the starting point of this road.
