motorized electronic soles, real seven leagues of modern times, allow you to move forward very quickly

The children talk about “sneakers that run fast.” “Insoles that walk fast” are coming to the market soon. These are articulated and motorized roller skates.

This is the new version of the Moonwalkers: electronic, motorized soles with six small wheels. You hang your shoes on it like on roller skates, but the operation is different since there is no need to skate. The soles are articulated so that you can walk normally. Heel forward, toes bending. It’s totally natural. Except that we walk up to three times faster, as if we were moving on a treadmill.

In fact, the electronics monitor gait and control wheel speed. The faster we walk, the more the wheels accelerate. And when you slow down, they brake automatically. The objective is to restart walking. Instead of taking a scooter or a bike in the city center, you put on your seven-league insoles and you can walk for hours at full speed, without getting tired.

If we approach a slope or if there are stairs, this is also planned! If we are going downhill, sensors will detect it and we will slow down automatically. If you have to take stairs, you will need to make a small movement with your heel. This will block the wheels from going up without slipping.
It’s a really good idea. They can be used on gravel, in grass, in endless airport corridors. It is also an idea, based in France, since it was presented by the start-up Rollkers almost 10 years ago. Except that this society is having all the trouble in the world to industrialize it. While the American Shift Robotics is already marketing its second version of the Moonwalkers. A lighter, less noisy version which will be available in a fortnight.

These motorized electronic insoles are sold for a little over 1,000 euros (the price of a bicycle). So prices would really have to fall for this to develop. A professional variation is also arriving for professions where we spend our days roaming warehouses, stores or logistics centers.

Everyone could benefit from power-assisted insoles.