Committee Chair

Kaplanoglu, Erkan

Committee Member

Erdemir, Gokhan; Akgun, Gazi

Department

Dept. of Engineering Management

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

This thesis investigates whether an adaptive multilayer insole can sense high plantar pressure and redistribute load through soft robotic pneumatic actuation to prevent diabetic foot ulcers. The prototype includes a cushioning layer, a 16-zone force-sensitive resistor array, a McKibben pneumatic actuator, and a 3D-printed TPU structural base. Experimental procedures included sensor calibration, passive TPU evaluation, actuator displacement testing, localized pneumatic offloading, and closed-loop sensing-and-actuation testing, all under controlled laboratory conditions. Pressure data was converted to kilopascals and evaluated using heat maps, zone-by-zone comparisons, and measures of actuator deformation and percent change. Most sensor zones showed a pressure decrease due to the TPU layer, while pneumatic actuation produced localized offloading; closed-loop testing showed significant reductions in several zones. These results demonstrate the practicality of the proposed design and provide a foundation for future work, including gait testing, multi-zone actuation, compact hardware integration, and clinical evaluation to kilopascals and evaluated with heat maps, zone by zone comparisons, measures of actuator deformation and % changes. Most sensor zones showed a pressure decrease due to the TPU layer, whereas pneumatic actuation caused localized offloading. Closed-loop testing indicated reductions in several zones were significant. The results prove the practicality of the proposed design and provide a foundation for future studies including gait testing, multi-zone actuation, compact hardware integration and clinical evaluation.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I want to sincerely thank and appreciate my parents, whose love, selflessness, and unwavering support have served as the cornerstone of my path. Throughout my life and academic career, their support, tolerance, and faith in me have been a continual source of inspiration and fortitude. I also want to express my gratitude to my siblings for their unwavering encouragement and support, which have been crucial in getting me to this point. I want to express my profound appreciation to Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu, my supervisor, for his leadership, direction, and unwavering support over the course of this study. His insightful technical advice, encouraging words, and helpful criticism significantly influenced the course of this task and raised the caliber of the finished products. Additionally, I am appreciative of Dr. Gazi Akgun's assistance and suggestions, which reinforced significant elements of our study. Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to the UTC BioAstLab (Biomechatronics and Assistive Technology Lab) for providing the resources, facilities, and cooperative research environment that enabled the experimental work described in this thesis. Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Engineering Management Department and College of Engineering and Computer Science for providing the academic resources and opportunities that enabled this study

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

8-2026

Subject

Smart materials; Soft robotics; Medical technology--Effect of managed care on; Self-help devices for people with disabilities

Keyword

Adaptive insole; diabetic foot ulcer prevention; plantar pressure sensing; soft robotics; closed-loop control; pressure redistribution

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

xiii, 72 leaves

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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