The U.S. Marine Corps has created a boot insert prototype to help improve the performance of Marines. The Mobility and Biomechanics Insert for Load Evaluation (MoBILE) helps detect changes in mobility and agility. MoBILE has flat, scale-like load sensors positioned in the heel, toe and arch that are capable of capturing data at sampling rates of up to 600 samples per second. When the sensors bend with the foot, the electronics register the bend as a change and send the information back to a master microcontroller for processing. MoBILE will help users gauge how they are carrying the weight of their equipment and if their normal gait changes during activity. MoBILE will be tested this summer on multiple terrains.
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