- Nike’s latest shoe uses robotics to propel people
- It is designed to help “everybody with a body” walk or run faster and further
- Nike says it is looking to commercialize the technology
Nike has announced arguably the wildest creation to come out of their Oregon-based research labs in the form of the world’s first “powered footwear system.”
Teaming up with robotics expert Dephy, Nike’s Project Amplify is designed to help everyday users walk or jog a little bit faster.
A high-end, carbon-coated running shoe is paired with a robotic leg support, which consists of a powerful motor, drive belt and rechargeable ankle cuff battery, essentially taking the heavy lifting out of walking or jogging.
The robotic addition can be removed and the running shoe can be worn, yes, like an old fashioned running shoe.
Nike says Project Amplify could do for walking or jogging what e-bikes have done for cycling, primarily making it easier for people to go farther and faster without the effort.
Rather than being aimed at elite athletes looking to set a PB – albeit one very questionable – Nike focuses on those who run a 10- to 12-minute mile pace.
The company says the shoes effectively offer a “second set of calf muscles” that help flatten hills and generally make a long morning commute or leisurely runs more tolerable over longer distances.
There’s no firm commitment on a launch date, but Nike appears to be serious about commercializing the robotic runners and says it wants to bring the footwear system to a wide consumer launch in the coming years.
Analysis: We will all be augmented one day
I have witnessed firsthand the extent to which some companies augment workers with motorized robots.
Hyundai’s advanced car factory in Singapore, for example, sees staff don robotic exoskeletons that help them work overhead for long periods.
At the factory, I even tested a pair of special pants that act as a stool to take the weight off the feet. It sounds crazy, but it actually works.
We’ve also tried Iron Man-style exoskeletons like the Hypershell ($799 / £630 / about AU$1,315), and our reviewer concluded that “despite looking silly, I’d say I enjoyed it”.
Now that a name as big as Nike is getting involved on a (potentially) commercial level, you can bet that human-robot augmentation will soon be the next big buzzword in wearables.
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