Could robotic boots speed up walking?

How about slipping on robotic boots so you can get around faster? Good idea? Well, California engineers have come up with boots that enable you to walk about 9% faster than normal but use less energy.

“You definitely notice the difference”, says study leader Dr Steven Collins, of Stanford University. It feels like taking off a backpack carrying about two stone. The robots are battery-driven and consist of two lightweight shoes and two supports on either side of the calf, held in by straps under the knee. A motor below the back of the knee pulls a string that causes the heel to move up and the toes to go down – giving an extra push as you step forward.

The device is fitted with sensors so it learns how the wearer walks.

The boots could be a boon for older people and for people who walk long distances, such as hikers and postal workers.