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The first version of Bionic Boots will let you run up to 25 MPH

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Malyse

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCnT-qWTE84

Engineer Keahi Seymour spent a recent weekend running laps around a San Francisco warehouse, but instead of Nikes, he was strapped into bionic boots of his own creation. Seymour was there to show attendees of Worlds Fair Nano, a futurist convention — slogan: “the future will be epic” — what exactly his boots could do.

The Bionic Boots were one of the many different rideable technologies showcased at the expo, but what made them stand out from the various motorized skateboards and “hoverboards” was that instead of being steered or driven, the Bionic Boots are strapped onto a person’s legs, augmenting their normal ability to Olympian levels. Seymour says the Bionic Boots have a max speed of 25 mph (Usain Bolt’s record land speed is 27 mph), and that’s only this first version. He says their “cruising speed” is around 15 mph, or what you’d average on a bicycle.
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What inspired the Bionic Boots?

So the inspiration for the Bionic Boots came from initially watching an animal TV program. I looked to the ostrich, which is one of the fastest bipedal animals on Earth, and the ways I could try and make a human run faster. So I wanted to take inspiration from the ostrich and how it stores elastic energy in its Achilles tendons, which inspired the design of the Bionic Boots.

You’ve said the Bionic Boot could appeal to the extreme sports crowd.

Ideally, I’d like to market the Bionic Boots to a wider market, not only just the extreme sports crowd. Initially, it will be geared toward them, but I basically want the general public to use them. Not only is it a form of extreme sports or recreation, it’s a form of personal transportation, recreation, and a low-impact fitness device.

While we have these very different devices around us in terms of urban transportation, the bionic boot has the advantage over other rideable devices because you can go through traffic and go over any terrain, jump up on curbs, and you can walk straight into work without having to lock up your bike or park your car.
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How much will the Bionic Boots cost?

That’s the million-dollar question that everyone wants to know. Initially, it will have to be higher priced, like a high-end mountain bike. That’s because it uses specific aircraft grade aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. I will also eventually want to have different price-point versions: A high-end version, a medium-priced version, and a lower-priced version, all using different materials.

And when do you expect the Bionic Boots to launch?

I would like it out as soon as possible, but I’m looking for a manufacturer to get it out quicker. I’m currently making every piece of the boot myself, there are going to be custom versions. If I get a manufacturer, we can get it to the public quicker.
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http://www.bionicboot.com/

https://www.inverse.com/article/27221-bionic-boot-keahi-seymour-worlds-fair-nano
 
tumblr_n01ujjaO5I1tn3ufbo1_r1_250.gif
 
Pretty sure this guy is showing them off on one of the episodes of The White Rabbit Project on Netflix.

Seems like it could be pretty cool!
 
Materials are probably still a bit heavy bit, but add some kind of motor a larger plate where the boot makes contact with the ground and they look similar to an idea for water running shoes I had a few years ago.
 
Red Liquorice said:
Seems like something you would want safety gear for - helmet, elbow and knee pads etc.
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That was my first thought when I watched the video. It can already hurt like a motherfucker if you fall when running/trailing at 7-8mph, so I can't imagine doing it at 2-3 times that speed.

Looks interesting, though.
 
Ewo said:
Only interested if they make the sound effects from The Six Million Dollar Man.
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Yep, the sound is more important than the actual speed. These boots could slow you down for all I care, as long as the typical soundeffects are in place!
 
What kind of shock absorption and other means of protecting from injury from just using them normally, before going into accidents, would these things have?



EDIT: I should've actually clicked links. So basically it's just Oscar Pistorius legs. Lame.
 
When you realise you spent all that money, look like an idiot and still can't run as fast as Usain Bolt.
 
haveheart said:
This looks bad.

Looks exhausting and very unnatural. Why would you want to use this instead of a bike?
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It's in the OP:

While we have these very different devices around us in terms of urban transportation, the bionic boot has the advantage over other rideable devices because you can go through traffic and go over any terrain, jump up on curbs, and you can walk straight into work without having to lock up your bike or park your car.
Click to expand...

Being able to just walk into the building and keep them under your desk is pretty efficient.
 
Better be prepared to lose some teeth, I guess. I like the idea, but watching the video, the only thing I could think of was how horrible it would be to fall while running at 25mph.
 
Well, that wasn't what I was really expecting. The biggest thing I see is that his stride looks unnatural, like he's overextending his gait with every step. Maybe it's due to the extension of the boot, but it looks like you could hurt yourself just by trying to run with them on.

Neat, but I don't see them taking off outside of military use.
 
jett said:
He doesn't seem to be running very fast to be honest.
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I was thinking that too at first.
Maybe looks that way because of the added bulk? I'm imagining a guy of his size running beside him without the boots during 0:16-0:21 and it looks like he's running at a good pace then, but as I said, "I'm imagining".
 
His running form seems to be affected by the weight and/or size.

Can't be good for bones/joints.

Also, isn't this the same concept as jumping stilts?

Technically you could sprint pretty fast with jumping stilts.
 
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