Smart 3D force-sensing shoe insoles for monitoring walking
Official title: 3D force sensing insoles for wearable, AI empowered, high-fidelity gait monitoring
Funded at Axioforce INC · NIH-11178697 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smart insole with 3D force sensors and onboard AI to monitor walking and flag abnormal gait in older adults at risk of falls.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Axioforce INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $893,313 |
| NIH project number | 5R44EB034605-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178697 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with concerns about balance or abnormal gait—especially people aged 65 and older—would be the primary candidates to use these insoles.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot walk, who require specialized orthotics that prevent using the insoles, or who are unwilling to wear sensor insoles may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would wear a thin sensor insole (Axiostride) that records three-dimensional forces as you walk. The insole sends data to an AI system that turns complex gait signals into near-real-time, easy-to-understand feedback about balance and walking patterns. The goal is to reproduce lab-quality gait measurements without needing a motion-capture lab so monitoring can happen at home. Early testing will compare the insole's data to standard lab equipment and train algorithms using healthy and pathologic walking patterns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect worsening gait earlier and reduce fall risk by giving patients and clinicians timely, easy-to-understand walking data.
How similar studies have gone: Other wearable gait devices have shown promise for monitoring and predicting fall risk, but full 3D force-sensing insoles combined with real-time AI are relatively new and less proven in large clinical trials.
Where this research is happening
-
Axioforce INC
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miller, Jonathan Daniel — Axioforce INC
- Study coordinator: Miller, Jonathan Daniel
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.