Nike is developing a motorized shoe that is supposed to assist you while walking and jogging. Commuters and non-professionals are the target audience for the project.
What exactly is behind Nike’s new shoes? With Project Amplify, Nike has officially introduced its first motorized running shoe. According to its own statement, it is the world’s first “powered footwear system” for walking and jogging. The idea behind it: People should be able to move faster, further, and with less effort – similar to an e-bike for the feet (via The Verge).
The system is based on a combination of robust mechanics and intelligent control. It consists of:
- a motorized unit with drive belt
- a lightweight, rechargeable battery
- a carbon fiber plate in the shoe itself
- and a flexible cuff that wraps around the lower calf
Together with the robotics company Dephy Inc., Nike developed a prototype specifically tailored for people who walk at a pace between 10 and 12 minutes per mile (approximately 6.2 minutes per kilometer, or about 9 km/h) – not necessarily serious athletes, but rather everyday joggers or commuters. According to Nike, the system is designed to operate so seamlessly that it feels “like a second pair of calves” (via Nike).
According to a recent press report, over 400 athletes have taken more than 2.4 million steps with over nine hardware iterations during the testing phase. However, the product is still in the early stages of development. A market launch is only planned “in the coming years” (via Nike).
Not a real innovation
Why the idea is not new – and what the Moonwalkers do differently? As futuristic and “cyberpunk” as Nike’s concept looks, it is not the first idea of motorized shoes that aim to make everyday life easier and faster.
The American startup Shift Robotics already presented the so-called Moonwalkers in 2022: a type of “shoe attachment with motor drive” that was supposed to significantly increase walking comfort.
Unlike Nike’s solution, the Moonwalkers were not a shoe system with a supportive motor, but rather motorized rolling platforms that were strapped onto normal shoes. They featured:
- small electric wheels underfoot
- AI-based control of step length and speed
- 3x faster walking speed
The concept was funded via Kickstarter and also targeted commuters and everyday users – with a top speed of around 11 km/h (via Galileo).
In comparison to the Moonwalkers, it becomes clear that Nike is taking a more integrated approach. Instead of an eye-catching motorized rolling system, Project Amplify offers a seamless extension of a classic running shoe.
A major sticking point remains the price: The Moonwalkers cost a whopping $1,400, or about €1,320. And it remains unclear where Nike’s price will settle in the future (if the prototype actually goes into production) – it is unlikely to be cheap.
The development of everyday accelerators has become much more prominent in recent years. Recently, a French company also presented an alternative to the e-bike that can reach speeds of up to 120 km/h: With an electric tricycle, you can achieve speeds of up to 120 km/h with pedals
