Automated Shoe Last Customization using MATLAB Algorithm

Footwear plays an essential role in human daily life as properly fitting and comfortable footwear will significantly improve human lives and productivity. Footwear customisation techniques aim to manufacture footwear that fits an individuals foot geometric. Footwear that exactly fits a persons foot geometric will provide more support and reduce impact when walking or when doing other activities. A customised shoe last is an important tool used by shoemakers in manufacturing customised shoes. Currently, most customised shoe lasts are made from the moulds of clients feet and all the measurements are done manually, which is a tedious and time-consuming process. This project aims to develop a novel MATLAB (2017) algorithm that will shorten the shoe last customization process and do so with higher accuracy. This MATLAB algorithm can reconstruct the foot model to smooth the surface texture and rearrange the three-dimensional (3D) model vertices for easier dimension calculations. It can a lso locate makers on first and fifth metatarsophalangeal joint automatically for more accurate shoe last design. The shoe last developed using the novel algorithm was used to create its equivalent negative moulds for the manufacturing of carbon fibre cycling shoes. The negative moulds were 3D printed and used to produce a prototype of cycling shoes. Future research needs to consider developing an automated algorithm to create negative moulds to speed up the cycling shoe manufacturing process