Nervous System is working with New Balance to develop functional 3D-printed midsoles for performance running shoes. We have created proprietary systems to generate midsole designs from pressure data from runners, making it possible to create variable density cushioning that is customized to how a person runs. This ongoing project has given us a unique opportunity to apply our generative design techniques to a new domain.
New Balance will start selling shoes with 3D-printed midsoles in April 2016, with a customized version to debut in 2017. You can read more about that in our blog and their press release.
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new balance shoes with 3D-printed midsoles
photo courtesy of New Balance
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Data midsoles
The midsole on the left is generated from the underfoot pressure data of a person who runs with a midfoot strike and the right mid…
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NB: Future of Sport - generator
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New Balance customizer demo at Digital Factory Conference, MIT Media Lab
photo by Onur Gun
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New Balance customizer demo at Digital Factory Conference, MIT Media Lab
photo by Onur Gun
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video: Generating a New Balance 3D-printed midsole from pressure data
Unlike traditional midsoles, these are not a uniform foam but a structure that can be adapted to different runners. We have design…
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Running data visualization
underfoot pressure data from a midfoot strike runner
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Flexible 3D Printed Midsole from New Balance
photo courtesy of New Balance
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photo courtesy of New Balance
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cutting through a midsole
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equipotential midsole concept
One series of experiments explored generating directional structures for the midsole that follow the gradient of the pressure data…
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equipotential midsole concept
photo courtesy of New Balance
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equipotential midsole concept
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equipotential midsole concept
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equipotential midsole concept
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data to design concept midsoles
a selection of some of the midsole concepts we designed
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Hyphae midsole concept
Another set of prototypes looked at growing more loosely interconnected structures based on our Hyphae system.
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Hyphae midsole concept
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Hyphae midsole concept
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generation process
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Team New Balance Athlete Brenda Martinez Wear Tests the New Balance 3D Printed Performance Running Shoe
photo courtesy of New Balance
