"Amplify has a few parts. At the top, an elastic cuff containing a ring of batteries fits onto the wearer's calf. Attached to the battery array is a mechanical arm that points downward, with the thickest part sitting over the outside of the ankle. That thick part is where the motor lives, and that motor drives a hinged piece that's attached to the heel of the shoe."
"At the end of each step, the motor pulls up on the heel of the shoe. The device is calibrated so the movement of the motor can match the natural movement of each person's ankle and lower leg. The result is that each step is powered, or given a little bit of a spring and an extra push by the robot mechanism."
"If you want to run faster or farther, you have options. You can put in the work, getting up 40 minutes earlier to train, changing your diet, going harder and longer on each of your runs to build up strength. Or, you can strap on one of Nike's new robot shoes and mechanically boost your speed, your stamina, and your overall performance in a flash. Sounds way easier, and probably more fun too."
Nike's Project Amplify is an early powered footwear system combining a calf-mounted battery cuff, a mechanical arm and a motorized hinge that lifts the shoe heel. The system uses a run-walk shoe with a carbon plate that detaches from the motorized components for conventional wear. The motor pulls up the heel at each step, calibrated to match individual ankle and lower-leg movement, producing a spring-like assist. The device targets middle-of-the-road runners—especially 10- to 12-minute milers—to boost stamina and endurance rather than elite competitive performance. Nike aims for a commercial release around 2028.
Read at WIRED
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