You know the Long Fall Boots from Portal 2? Well, the Nike Project Amplify is not that. I’d love to say it’s the closest thing to Chell’s high-tech leg gear that solves the “reproducible human error problem,” but no. What it is, though, is equally high-tech and arguably more wearable. Nike calls it the world’s first powered footwear system for running and walking. Think of it as an exoskeleton for your feet, except this one won’t make you look like you escaped from a robotics lab.
Still in testing, Project Amplify is Nike’s bold attempt to add horsepower to human legs. It’s built around a lightweight motor, drive belt, and rechargeable cuff battery that work together to assist ankle and lower leg motion. The setup slots neatly into a carbon-fiber-plated running shoe that can also be worn on its own, making it equal parts sci-fi prototype and serious sports gear.
What it actually does is help you run or walk a little faster and farther with less effort, like an e-bike, but for your calves. Early testers say it feels like having an extra set of calf muscles, with uphill climbs suddenly feeling like flat ground. In trials, over 400 athletes collectively covered 2.4 million steps in nine hardware iterations, all to fine-tune how much “oomph” should go into every stride.
Nike is developing the system with robotics partner Dephy, and it’s currently tuned for “everyday athletes”, the kind who run 10- to 12-minute miles and prefer fun over finish lines. It’s powered by algorithms from the Nike Sport Research Lab, proving once again that somewhere in Oregon, engineers are figuring out how to make jogging feel like gliding.
The Nike Project Amplify powered footwear system is still under development, with pricing and release date to be announced. That’s right. It will be available to buy in the future.
Images: Nike.
