Nike’s Robotic Shoe Gets Humans One Step Closer to Cyborg

if you want To run faster or farther, you have options. you can put to workWake up 40 minutes earlier to train, change your diet, Going hard and long Build strength with each of your runs.

Or, you can do a whip Nike’s New robot shoes and mechanics boost your speed, your stamina and your overall performance in a flash. Sounds way easier, and probably more fun.

The footwear giant unveiled today Expand the projectAn early design of a powered footwear system is still being developed by Nike engineers with a goal of a commercial release in 2028.

Amplify has several parts. At the top, an elastic cuff containing a ring of batteries fits over the wearer’s calf. Attached to the battery array is a mechanical arm that points downward, with the thickest part sitting on the outside of the heel. The thick part is where the motor lives and that motor drives a hinged part attached to the heel of the shoe.

The shoe itself is a run-walk shoe with a carbon plate and modern Nike look. (The company says you can detach the shoes and wear them without the motorized device; helpful for recharging the battery.)

At the end of each step, the motor rises above the heel of the shoe. The device is calibrated so the movement of the motor matches the natural movement of each individual’s ankle and lower leg. The result is that each step is driven, or given a spring and an additional push by the robot mechanism.

Nike doesn’t expect competitive athletes or distance runners to be able to stop their marathon times and start shaving minutes. Rather, the device is meant to encourage the movement of people who are running or jogging in the middle of the road Nike cites 10- to 12-minute milers as the ultimate target market for Project Amplify. The company says such a device would give people the gentle support they need to improve their overall fitness or help them endure long distances while running. It’s designed for everyday walkers and those who are on their feet for long stretches, essentially giving anyone the ability to stay mobile longer and more comfortably.

Nike has been developing Project Amplify for years; Here are some prototypes.

Courtesy of Nike