Exoskeleton BOOT that enables the wearer to walk 9% faster with 17% less effort

An exoskeleton boot that enables the wearer to walk 9 per cent faster than with normal shoes, and with 17 per cent less effort, has been revealed by scientists. Created at Stanford University, the robotic footwear comes with a motor that works with calf muscles to give the wearer an extra push with every step. The precisely-timed motor controls the boot so that it imparts a'torque' – a twisting force that can cause rotation around an axis – at the leg joint. The new creation could be widely used in everyday life, by people with mobility impairments or with physically demanding jobs, for example. The exoskeleton'boot' can adapt to the user to help people walk faster and more efficiently in real-world conditions.