Walking meets artificial intelligence (AI) with a Kickstarter project that claims to give its shoe wearers a walking pace at the “speed of run”.
Dubbed the “Moonwalkers” by the developing company, SHIFT, the motorized shoes are powered by AI that learns an individual wearer’s walking patterns and adapts to the findings in the name of giving the wearer a fast walking speed.
The high-tech shoe has a built-in motor and wheels that facilitate faster mobility with every step—up to 7 miles per hour, lasting an average of 6.5 miles on a full charge, per company claim.
Launched in 2022 with a goal of $90,000, the campaign broke its intended objective with accumulated total funding worth $321,409, consequently putting things into motion with its production.
To retail at a price tag of $1,399 upon launch, the Moonwalkers can otherwise be pre-ordered with a deposit of $50.
Giving the curious audience a glimpse at the developing project, a video demo is rolled out which shows founder Xunjie Zhang getting into details about how the wheeled shoes work in both normal walking and climbing of stairs.
In walking, wearers get significant acceleration with every step while maintaining balance while climbing stairs requires setting the AI shoes in “locked mode,” which is done by lifting the heel into position.
Per SHIFT, the Moonwalkers can be used on any walkable terrain, including dirt tracks, concrete, and areas with slight elevation. It can also traverse through puddles, thanks to its water-resistant design.
Not necessarily footwear that will replace traditional shoes, but Moonwalkers is designed to fit and complement every shoe for faster transport while on foot.