Author(s): QUEGUINER, L., NIKOLAYEV, D., Institution: INSTITUT D'ELECTRONIQUE ET DES TECHNOLOGIES DU NUMÉRIQUE - RENNES, Country: FRANCE, Abstract-ID: 2487

INTRODUCTION:
Biomechanical data are essential for injury prevention and performance optimization in sports. Current monitoring systems mainly rely on GPS and IMUs embedded in watches or chest straps[1]. While these tools quantify external load, they provide limited insight into plantar loading and musculoskeletal stress[2]. Smart insoles enable real-time measurement of plantar pressure distribution during walking and running[3,4]. Unlike pressure platforms, they can be embedded directly in footwear and used on the field or in clinical environments. However, despite existing for nearly a decade, smart insoles remain marginally adopted (in sports and clinical practice). So why are they not widely adopted today? The main barriers are thickness, weight, and energy consumption. This study addresses these limitations through: (1) a comprehensive state-of-the-art (SOTA) of current market and research solutions, and (2) the development of an ultra-thin, low-power, fully embedded smart insole architecture.
METHODS:
First, we conducted a comprehensive SOTA including a market review of 12 commercially available smart insole systems and a literature analysis of approximately 200 IEEE Xplore publications (2010–2025). Products were compared in terms of thickness, integration, weight, and power strategy, and publications categorized by research focus. Second, based on this review framework, we developed a fully embedded, ultra-thin smart insole architecture designed to be low-power, durable, and compatible with orthopedic or performance insole. The approach relies on a dedicated study of wireless communication performance(the most power-hungry module of the device), electromagnetic distance measurements under realistic walking conditions, numerical simulations using the Finite Element Method (FEM), and experimental validation under mechanical loading. A foot model was implemented to reproduce realistic pressure conditions and evaluate system performance in real-use scenarios.
RESULTS:
The SOTA highlights a trade-off: ultra-thin insoles rely on external modules, whereas fully integrated systems are thicker and heavier. Only 5–6% of studies address wireless communication and power optimization. The proposed modeling approach enables realistic evaluation under walking pressure conditions. The developed architecture demonstrates improved signal robustness and a reduced power consumption while maintaining full integration within a thin structure, supporting the feasibility of ultra-thin, energy-efficient smart insoles suitable for real-world sports and clinical applications.
CONCLUSION:
Smart insoles offer strong opportunity to monitor plantar loading, but adoption is limited by integration constraints. By combining a comprehensive SOTA with the development of a low-power, fully embedded architecture, this study provides a pathway toward ultra-thin, durable, and deployable smart insole systems for real-world sports and clinical applications.
[1] Hutarabat 2021 / [2] Diez 2018 / [3] D’Arco 2025 / [4] Chen 2020.