Moonwalkers

3/6/2023

Hailey Poziombka ‘23

Imagine that there was a way you could walk at a leisurely pace but move at the speed of a run. Imagine that there was something like an airport's travelator that could be strapped to your feet and propel you forward. That, in essence, is the new invention of Moonwalker shoes by Shift Robotics.

The Moonwalkers look like a pair of wheeled sandals, rather similar to roller skates, that can fit over your shoes. These new inventions may look like a simple pair of skates, but in reality, they are wheels that are designed to upgrade an individual's walking speed. They are mechanically engineered to move when you do, and roll when you walk. Designed with adaptive AI, the shoes let you reach higher speeds at your own pace. The shoes can also gauge when you stop walking and can come to a full stop after only a meter.

The shoes have an 8-wheeled pattern of overlapping wheels that simulates a larger diameter of wheel in order to conquer rougher terrain. Moonwalkers move only when you do, so you can travel on stairs or stand still at a crosswalk.

The shoes are available for pre-order and are listed at $1399.

Leaving aside the price of the shoes, this adaptive new technology will help college kids travel to class, and with this technological breakthrough, it will enable future members of society to combine exercise and practicality.