Walk

Scientists have developed smart insoles that accurately measure the forces created when a foot hits the ground in the real world. The tech has a range of applications, from assisting in rehabilitating patients to helping athletes prevent injuries.

Researchers have developed technology that allows people to do common smartphone tasks – listen to music, take a phone call, and order food – all by making simple, not-too-socially-awkward gestures with their feet while they’re walking.

Two patients with spinal injuries have seen improvements in their ability to walk again, thanks to deep brain stimulation. Intriguingly, the therapy targets a region of the brain that normally isn’t associated with motor skills.

The CyberPad is a compact treadmill designed to fit easily under a standing desk so you can get a workout while working, with an angular design inspired by the “iconic Tesla CyberTruck.”

The fastest any human has ever run on record was Usain Bolt. He was clocked at a ridiculously quick 27.79 mph (44.72 km/h) when he ran a 9.58-second 100-meter dash. Two-legged robots can run even faster, and it looks really weird.

Carnegie Mellon spinoff Shift Robotics has launched a lighter, quieter version of its strap-on powered wheels first introduced as a Kickstarter in 2022. Like the originals, the Moonwalkers Aero are designed to give users a powered boost as they walk.

For the first time, researchers have shown how a simple walking plan can deliver significant, long-lasting relief from recurring lower back pain. Until now, this common-sense activity has been seen as a something to include in treatment, not focus on.

The Moonwalker robo-shoes from Shift Robotics have now officially hit the market and at $1,400 they present as a legitimate, low-cost, no-maintenance, easily-carried, last-mile transportation solution.

A new underwater robot can swim through the water with fins, and walk or crawl along the bottom when necessary. These capabilities could really give it a leg up – pun fully intended – at outperforming its traditional thruster-powered counterparts.

Researchers are developing a robotic exoskeleton platform that could overcome the limitations of treadmills used during the rehabilitation of the many stroke survivors who have problems walking.

A new robotic exoskeleton could allow people who have lost the use of their legs to stand up and even walk. It may also help get them walking unaided again, by guiding their movements and holding them up as they take part in rehabilitative therapy.

When we last heard from LimX Dynamics, the Chinese robotics firm was showing off a quadruped robot that could walk on legs or roll on wheels. The company has now released a video of its new humanoid robot, which can autonomously climb stairs.