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Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)’s SoftFoot Pro is a new and innovative piece of engineering. Unlike the prosthetic feet of today, SoftFoot Pro mimics the anatomy and movement of a natural human foot. It is flexible and adapts to the shape of the ground the individual walks upon. This is a game-changer for prostheses-wearing individuals, as it allows for everyday activities such as bending down, picking things up, or climbing stairs. Additionally, it does not require a motor, and can be used in any weather condition.
“What prostheses and today’s humanoid robots have in common is the characteristic of having flat or low compliant feet, developed to ensure maximum stability but incapable of adapting to changes in terrain contour, slope, and different positions such as kneeling or bending,” said Manuel G. Catalano, a researcher in the Soft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation Lab at IIT, according to Interesting Engineering. The prosthetic foot designed by IIT resolves this issue, and allows amputees better movement and balance, while also paving the way for similar engineering to be adapted in humanoid robots.
Another major advantage of the SoftFoot Pro is its weight and strength. Made of a mix of titanium and high-strength plastic, it weighs only around 450 grams but can support users up to 100 kg.
The unique design of the prosthesis is inspired by human anatomy: the foundation is a movable arch made from titanium, which connects to five parallel chains made from a specialized, high-strength plastic, meant to resemble the plantar fascia in the human foot (a band of tissue at the bottom of the foot that connects the heel bone to the toe base) and grants it natural mobility. This chain mechanism allows the prosthesis to imitate the way the plantar fascia tightens when walking, creating a balanced pressure distribution on the ground. These chains are strung with a highly durable cable, the length of which is 210 millimeters from heel to toe.
As mentioned in the press release, “The arch system and the elastic chains constitute the artificial equivalent of the architecture composed by tarsus, metatarsus, and phalanges of the human foot”.
Traditionally, as different prosthetics are designed for different activities, users need to exchange prosthetics in alignment with the terrain they intend to walk upon. However, as SoftFoot Pro is waterproof and adaptable, it can be used in various terrains, including slippery surfaces.
“SoftFoot Pro can change its shape, allowing the foot sole to deform and to adapt to the roughness of the terrain and any obstacles, minimizing them, improving the naturalness of the step, and enhancing the stability of the user,” the press release described.
The pioneering design of SoftFoot Pro has already been patented internationally, with two patents secured and a third on the way.
