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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise
Published on: March 20, 2012
How to run 50% faster without external energy
Amanda Sutrisno1, David J Braun1
1Center for Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology, Advanced Robotics and Control Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
Abstract:
Technological innovations may enable next-generation running shoes to provide unprecedented mobility. But how could a running shoe increase the speed of motion without providing external energy? We found that the top speed of running may be increased more than 50% using a catapult-like exoskeleton device, which does not provide external energy. Our finding uncovers the hidden potential of human performance augmentation via unpowered robotic exoskeletons. Our result may lead to a new-generation of augmentation devices developed for sports, rescue operations, and law enforcement, where humans could benefit from increased speed of motion.
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