Abstract:
Footwear is an integral part of daily life. Embedding sensors and electronics in footwear for
various different applications started more than two decades ago. This review article summarizes the
developments in the field of footwear-based wearable sensors and systems. The electronics, sensing
technologies, data transmission, and data processing methodologies of such wearable systems are
all principally dependent on the target application. Hence, the article describes key application
scenarios utilizing footwear-based systems with critical discussion on their merits. The reviewed
application scenarios include gait monitoring, plantar pressure measurement, posture and activity
classification, body weight and energy expenditure estimation, biofeedback, navigation, and fall
risk applications. In addition, energy harvesting from the footwear is also considered for review.
The article also attempts to shed light on some of the most recent developments in the field along
with the future work required to advance the field.