- Nike's Latest Shoe Uses Robotics to Bring Energy to People
- It's designed to help anyone with a body walk or run faster and further.
- Nike says it is committed to commercializing the technology
Nike has announced perhaps the wildest creation to come out of its Oregon research labs—the world's first “powered footwear system.”
Nike's Project Amplify, created in collaboration with robotics expert Dephy, aims to help everyday people walk or jog a little faster.
The high-quality carbon-coated running shoe is coupled with a robotic leg brace that consists of a powerful motor, drive belt and a rechargeable battery for the ankle cuff, making the hard work of walking or jogging much easier.
The robotic addition can be removed and the sneakers worn, well, like old-fashioned sneakers.
Nike says Project Amplify could do for walking or jogging what e-bikes did for cycling, mainly by making it easier for people to go further and faster without exerting themselves.
Rather than being aimed at elite athletes looking to set PB – although Very questionable – Nike focuses on those who run a mile at 10-12 minute pace.
The company says the shoe essentially offers a “second set of calf muscles,” helping smooth out hills and generally make long morning commutes or relaxed long-distance runs more tolerable.
There are no firm commitments on a launch date, but Nike appears to be serious about commercializing robotic runners, saying it wants to bring the shoe system to the wider consumer market in the coming years.
Analysis: One day we will all be augmented
I have personally witnessed the extent to which some companies are expanding their workforce with robotics.
Hyundai advanced automobile plant in SingaporeFor example, employees wear robotic exoskeletons that help them work overhead for long periods of time.
At the factory, I even tried out a special pair of trousers that can be used as a stool to take the pressure off your legs. It sounds crazy, but it actually works.
We also tried Iron Man-style exoskeletons such as Hypershell ($799/£630/about AU$1,315) and our reviewer concluded that “even though it looks silly, I'd say I liked it.”
Now that a high-profile company like Nike is reaching the (potentially) commercial level, you can bet that human-robot augmentation will soon become the next buzzword in the wearables space.
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