Intelligent electronic footwear and control logic for automated pedestrian collision avoidance

A method of operating an intelligent electronic shoe system for preventing a collision between a user and a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving, via a detection tag attached to footwear worn by the user, a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module, the footwear including an upper, a sole structure attached to the upper, a shoelace attached to the upper, and a lace motor attached to the footwear, the lace motor being operable to selectively tension and loosen the shoelace;
• transmitting, via the detection tag to the transmitter-detector module responsive to receiving the prompt signal, a response signal;
• receiving, via an electronic controller through a wireless communications device attached to the footwear, a collision warning signal generated by a remote computing node responsive to the response signal output by the detection tag;
• transmitting, via the electronic controller to the remote computing node responsive to the received collision warning signal, user dynamics data of the user;
• receiving, via the electronic controller from the remote computing node, a collision threat value predictive of intrusion of the user with respect to a vehicle location and a predicted route of the vehicle, the collision threat value being based on fusion of the user dynamics data with crowd-sourced data indicative of behavior of multiple users in proximity to the user;
• and
• transmitting, via the electronic controller responsive to the collision threat value predicting intrusion of the user, a command signal to the lace motor to generate a predetermined tactile alert configured to warn the user of an impending collision with the vehicle.

A method of operating an intelligent electronic shoe system for preventing a collision between a user and a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving, via a detection tag attached to footwear worn by the user, a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module, the footwear including an upper, a sole structure attached to the upper, a shoelace attached to the upper, and a lace motor attached to the footwear, the lace motor being operable to selectively tension and loosen the shoelace;
• transmitting, via the detection tag to the transmitter-detector module responsive to receiving the prompt signal, a response signal;
• receiving, via an electronic controller through a wireless communications device attached to the footwear, a collision warning signal generated by a remote computing node responsive to the response signal output by the detection tag;
• receiving, via the electronic controller from a pressure sensor mounted to the footwear, a sensor signal indicative of a presence of a foot of the user in the upper of the footwear;
• and
• transmitting, via the electronic controller responsive to the received collision warning signal and the detected presence of the foot in the upper, a command signal to the lace motor to generate a predetermined tactile alert configured to warn the user of an impending collision with the vehicle.

A method of operating an intelligent electronic shoe system for preventing a collision between a user and a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving, via a detection tag attached to footwear worn by the user, a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module, the footwear including an upper, a sole structure attached to the upper, a shoelace attached to the upper, and a lace motor attached to the footwear, the lace motor being operable to selectively tension and loosen the shoelace;
• transmitting, via the detection tag to the transmitter-detector module responsive to receiving the prompt signal, a response signal;
• receiving, via an electronic controller through a wireless communications device attached to the footwear, a collision warning signal generated by a remote computing node responsive to the response signal output by the detection tag;
• determining, via the electronic controller communicating with the lace motor, if the shoelace is in a tensioned state;
• and
• transmitting, via the electronic controller responsive to the received collision warning signal and the shoelace being in the tensioned state, a first command signal to the lace motor to generate a predetermined tactile alert configured to warn the user of an impending collision with the vehicle.