An international finalist in the James Dyson Awards 2025, SOLE¹ is a sleek sock-and-insole system powered by synthetic muscles and AI. The system comprises a collar (housing processor, battery and interface), a sock embroidered with ultra-thin nitinol actuators and an insole embedded with sensors and a carbon-fibre plate. As the wearer walks, SOLE¹ senses gait irregularities and dynamically assists the ankle, enabling natural dorsiflexion and stabilised heel-to-toe motion. SOLE¹ functions as a second layer of muscle, helping to prevent mobility loss linked to aging, injury, or disability.
Designed by the duo Bradley Wagman and Viktor Bokisch, The AI powered, soft-robotic garment addresses “foot drop” — a common mobility condition in stroke survivors, people with MS or diabetes, and many older adults. What makes SOLE¹ design-noteworthy is its fusion of biomechanics, fashion-friendly form and user-centred engineering. By fusing biomechanical augmentation, fashion design, and medical precision, the system is able to restore movement, enhance confidence, and redefine what assistive technology can feel like. Fitting into any shoe, operable with low-dexterity hands, and aiming for affordability (< $3 000), it refuses the stigma and rigidity of traditional devices.
