History of Powered Footwear Technology
From early wheeled concepts to modern robotic shoes.
The history of powered footwear spans from human-powered wheeled shoes to today's AI-driven robotic devices.
Timeline
1700s–1800s — Roller skates establish wheeled footwear as a concept
1960s–1980s — Early motorized shoe concepts appear in inventors' workshops and popular science media
2000s — Exoskeleton research advances motor and sensor technology
2010s — Wearable robotics gains momentum in military and medical applications
2020s — Shift Robotics Moonwalkers become first major commercial powered shoe; Nike and others begin research programs
The Kickstarter Moment
Shift Robotics' Moonwalkers Kickstarter campaign was a pivotal moment for the category, proving consumer demand and bringing powered shoes into public awareness.
Read our full History of Powered Footwear guide.