We are using biomimicry to make surf shoes that help keep the wearer on the board.

؜The suckers on an octopus arm.

Precedents

The straps of a sandal and the materials of a wet suit boot.

؜Initial Sketches

؜Our form prototype

Our first suction cup prototype

It is made so an artificial vacuum can be made within it instead of traditional suction cups.

؜Our second suction cup prototype, with multiple linked together.

؜This has the same principle of using an artificial vacuum, but now multiple are linked.

This is an example where there are suction cups in the shoe.

The extra space would be where the air pump and electronics are stored.

ChatGPT feedback that could be useful.

Feedback continued

؜More Feedback

؜Our next iteration

This is how powerful the suction cups were

The mid review had little feedback because the ChatGPT feedback covered it.

؜We were originally going to use electronics to activate pumps creating the vacuum for the shoes.

After reviewing the idea we pivoted from electronics and decided to make it out of non electric components. The idea we pivoted to is more closely related to how an octopus' suckers work. We would be 3D printing the non electrical components that needed to move out of TPU

-3D printing takes a long time, the entire school day for some prints

-the prints can fail or run out of filament, requiring reprinting

؜Problems:

ChatGPT feedback for the new design

How the octopus sucker works

How ours works

؜Downward pressure must be applied to activate, the suction cup acts how a octopus' sucker works, the a vertical force removes the stopper and deactivates the suction cups.

؜Suction cups

؜Grippy rubber on bottom(yellow)

Straps to attach to feet

Air pump type

Pump

Air/water flow tube

Suction cups we would have 3d printed

Have holes to connect to the pump

Air pumps are large and clunky.

So make the mechanism the suction cup.

We made the suction cups able to deactivate with a lack of pressure

How the shoe would work

The mechanisms and

Suction cup

؜Bottom section

؜Top section

؜Deactivation trigger

Safey strap

Trigger string