NIKE has unveiled a pair of robot trainers that make you run faster.
The sportswear giant says the robo-shoes effectively give you “a second set of calf muscles”.
Nike‘s hi-tech footwear is being branded as Project Amplify, and was created through a partnership with robotics company Dephy.
And the company says it’s developing it to make “slower running, jogging and walking easier and more fun”.
Nike called it “the world’s first powered footwear system for running and walking”.
And they said it’s “designed to help everyday athletes go a little bit faster and farther — all with less effort”.
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Nike also clarified that it wasn’t just referring to professional runners, noting: “If you have a body, you are an athlete.”
The shoes augment the leg and ankle using a robotic system.
It combines a lightweight and powerful motor with a drive belt and a rechargeable cuff battery.
And they all integrate with a carbon fibre-plated running shoe.
Importantly, you can wear the running shoe on its own without the robotics system if you prefer.
“Our job is to dream big while keeping athletes at the centre,” said Nike innovation boss Michael Donaghu.
“Project Amplify started with a single question: What if we could find a way to help athletes move faster and farther with less energy and a lot more fun?
“At its core, Project Amplify is about seamlessly adding a little more power to your stride.
“The fun comes from realising you can do more than you thought you could — whatever ‘more’ means to you.”
According to Nike, the shows will allow you to walk or run more often, for longer amounts of time, or move more quickly.
The company says that it could let you “extend your walking commute”, or run for an extra mile or two beyond your normal capacity.
The shoe giant compared the trainers to electric bikes, pointing out how they’ve made it “easier to ride farther and more frequently”.
“That approach is backed by insights developed from NSRL testing involving athletes of all abilities and intensities,” Nike said.
“Who have shared that the system feels like it’s part of their body and that it makes walking or running uphill feel like moving on flat ground.
“For some, wearing Project Amplify helps them go from a 12-minute mile to a 10-minute mile.”
According to Nike, more than 400 athletes have covered over 2.4 million steps as part of the development of the shoes.
And that’s spread across “more than nine different versions of the hardware”.
“Is this new for Nike? Yes and no,” said Donaghu.
“It’s obviously a new innovation, but the day Bill Bowerman poured rubber into the family waffle iron was the start of a journey to augment movement and create the future of sport.
“We’ve always believed movement is medicine, and Project Amplify is the next chapter in that story.
“It’s a bold leap forward, crossing a new threshold of putting power directly into your stride.”
Sadly, this shoe is still in an early testing stage, so there’s no confirmed release date or pricing.
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It also seems unlikely that high-level running tournaments would allow a robotic shoe of this nature to be worn while competing.
But Nike says that the shoes are designed for competitive running anyway.
