Multi-texture micro-mechanical actuation system for in situ friction control during human gait

An actuation system comprising:

• a pair of gear assemblies, each gear assembly having a plurality of gears configured to interlock and rotate with one or more adjacent gears;
• a crank assembly having a series of shafts, wherein the crank assembly is coupled at one end of the crank assembly to a respective gear of one of the pair of gear assemblies and coupled at an opposing end of the crank assembly to a respective gear of the other gear assembly of the pair of gear assemblies such that the crank assembly extends between the pair of gear assemblies;
• a plurality of friction members, each friction member being coupled to a respective gear of one of the gear assemblies and having a series of textured outer surfaces;
• an outsole for an article of footwear having an inner portion, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the inner portion to the outer surface, each opening receiving one or more of the friction members such that at least one of the textured outer surfaces of each friction member partially extends beyond or substantially lies within a plane of the outer surface of the outsole;
• and
• an actuator configured to rotate one or more gears of at least one of the pair of gear assemblies such that each friction member coupled to each gear assembly rotates relative to the outsole.

An actuation system, comprising:

• a gear assembly having a plurality of gears;
• a plurality of friction members, each friction member being coupled to a respective gear of the gear assembly and having a series of textured outer surfaces;
• an outsole for an article of footwear having an inner portion, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the inner portion to the outer surface, each opening being configured to receive one or more of the friction members such that at least one textured outer surface of each friction member is exposed on the outer surface of the outsole;
• and
• an actuator configured to rotate one or more gears of the gear assembly such that each friction member rotates relative to the outsole,
• wherein the plurality of gears comprises four gears, two of the four gears lying along and rotating about a first axis and the other two gears lying along and rotating about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.