All comments on style aside, these are pretty cool. They are power generating shoes, that use water and a small turbine. As you step down, the water is forced through the turbine and recirculated back to the reservoir when you lift your foot. It may not change the world, but is definitely interesting. This reminds us of those shoes that we used to pump up til they burst.
why so complicated ? piezo will work, spring and magnets will work too
Posted at 2:21 pm on Oct 21st, 2008 by therian
Is that a tiny little Tesla turbine on there?
Posted at 3:35 pm on Oct 21st, 2008 by Tom
AC/DC?
Posted at 4:23 pm on Oct 21st, 2008 by Charles
ac/dc rocks!!! but why not put it on the heal any way
Posted at 4:51 pm on Oct 21st, 2008 by drew
@ edz
I am so glad that I am not the only one who thought of Dune when I saw this.
Posted at 5:25 pm on Oct 21st, 2008 by brassxian
Wow, that’s pretty cool, though I think it would make more sense to mount it on the back of the shoe or on an ankle strap or something where the pants leg would cover it, then put UV reactive fluid in it and use it to power some UV LEDs (do they make UV LEDs? I’m not sure >.<), and do some interesting looking things with the tubing ^_^
Though if it makes enough power to charge a small device, you could run build a cord into your pants, that plugs into it and then you can plug in your device to charge it in your pocket.
Posted at 7:47 pm on Oct 21st, 2008 by Ryan
It’s hard to see, but it actually covers the back of the shoe too, on the bottom at least. If you look closely you can see where the hose on the right side of the shoe goes under to the pressure system and then back up the heel.
Posted at 12:12 am on Oct 22nd, 2008 by M4CGYV3R
:) I was going to make some Dune/Stillsuit comments, but it looks like you guys have that covered.
Next up, solar sand worms :P
Posted at 6:27 am on Oct 22nd, 2008 by nubie
Why argue over heel vs toe? If you make it full sole, (problematic?) or two separate reservoirs, it would also serve to cushion the feet. It would be a two’fer! Anti-fatigue and power generating!
It could be made to generate on both the heel-down and the toe-off parts of the stride while the same liquid goes back and forth between. The batteries being charged could double as ankle weights providing beneficial exercise.
**Geek Alert**
Wait, there’s more! The whole system could be used to power the Master Chief’s shields. He can kill the Flood, stem the Covenant invasion, generate his own power, all while massaging his feet! Those metal shoes built into the Mark 6 Suit are pure murder!
Posted at 7:08 am on Oct 22nd, 2008 by mikelinpa
just wait until some steam punk gets a hold of this…
Posted at 8:51 am on Oct 22nd, 2008 by disciple
I was more talking about moving the electronics + turbine, to a more enclosed safer location then the toe of the sandal.
Posted at 10:50 am on Oct 22nd, 2008 by Ryan
Wow, this would go awesome with the lap top cargo pants I have in my head!
Posted at 3:48 pm on Oct 22nd, 2008 by Nivekian
A bit different than some solutions I have sketched out.. but definitely interesting. My feet can’t stand squishy shoes so I scrapped shoe power… but this project totally gets me interested in the old project again… sweet and thanks!
Posted at 2:17 am on Oct 23rd, 2008 by Louis II
sandals
not shoes
ugly ones at that
Posted at 10:34 am on Oct 23rd, 2008 by guest
“why so complicated ? piezo will work, spring and magnets will work too”
Yes, but this is funnier! That someone actually built it..
Posted at 10:51 am on Oct 25th, 2008 by Josh
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Stillsuits here we come.
Posted at 1:39 pm on Oct 21st, 2008 by EdZ