The adidas_1 has won the “Best of What's New” Grand Award, the highest accolade in the Recreation category of Popular Science's annual awards. With a level of intelligence that continuously senses, understands and adapts to provide comfortable cushioning for each individual runner's needs, the adidas_1 stood out to Popular Science editors, making it the first time that footwear has won a “Best of What's New” award.
Popular Science Editor, Mark Jannot, said the “Best of What's New” is the ultimate Popular Science accolade, with the winners of 12 categories chosen from thousands of entries. “These awards honor innovations that not only impact the way we live today, but change the way we think about the future,” he added.
adidas-Salomon AG Executive Board Member responsible for Global Marketing and North America, Erich Stamminger said, “We are excited that Popular Science has recognized adidas_1 as a product that will change the entire sporting goods industry. With adidas_1 we are continuing the legacy of adidas as the most innovative sports brand.”
Secret for over three years, the adidas Innovation Team in Portland, Oregon, created the adidas_1 to provide intelligent cushioning by automatically and continuously adjusting itself during an entire run. It does so by sensing the cushioning level using a sensor and a magnet. It then understands whether the cushioning level is too soft or too firm via a small computer. It adapts with a motor-driven cable system to provide the correct cushioning, so all the runner notices is that the shoe feels right during the entire run.
To illustrate how sophisticated the adidas_1 is, the sensor is accurate to the width of a human hair, the processor can make five million calculations per second and the shoe's motor actually turns faster than the blades of a Blackhawk helicopter. No matter what the runner weighs, whether the pace is fast or slow, or if the running surface is roads or trails, the adidas_1 will meet each individual runner's cushioning needs.
adidas_1 will be featured in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely-read issue of the year.
