Nike Unveils Robotics-Powered and Neuroscience-Informed Footwear as Part of Major Innovation Push

• Project Amplify and Nike Mind are two of four new innovation platforms introduced under Nike’s unified Sport Offense strategy.
• The updates reflect a shift toward faster, athlete-driven development across Nike, Jordan Brand, and Converse.

Nike has released four new innovation platforms: Aero-FIT, Air Milano, Project Amplify, and Nike Mind. Each is designed to solve a different performance challenge using design, research, and engineering. These are the first launches under the company’s new Sport Offense structure, which brings together teams from Nike, Jordan Brand, and Converse to speed up development and focus on athlete needs.

Project Amplify uses a motor, drive belt, and battery cuff built into a running shoe with a carbon fiber plate. The system is powered by motion algorithms developed by the Nike Sport Research Lab and is designed to support ankle and leg movement. Nike worked with robotics company Dephy to create the first-generation version, which includes a lightweight motor and rechargeable battery that can be worn with or without the robotic components. It is aimed at people who run or walk at moderate speeds, particularly in the 10- to 12-minute mile range, and is meant to make movement feel easier and more enjoyable—similar to how electric bikes have changed everyday cycling. The system is still in the testing phase and has been trialed by more than 400 athletes over 2.4 million steps and nine versions of the hardware, according to Nike.

The Mind 001 mule and Mind 002 sneaker are the first shoes from Nike’s new Mind platform. They were developed over more than ten years by the Mind Science Department at the Nike Sport Research Lab. Each shoe has 22 foam nodes under the foot that move on their own to activate sensory receptors. The nodes are attached to a flexible, water-resistant layer that allows them to act like pistons and gimbals, helping athletes feel the texture of the ground as they move. This interaction is designed to improve focus and body awareness by reducing distractions and enhancing sensory input. The Mind 001 is a slip-on designed for comfort, and the Mind 002 is a sneaker built for more support. Both are made to help athletes feel more present before and after training or competition and will be available in January 2026.

With the Sport Offense now in place, Nike is aiming to turn athlete insight into product innovation more quickly and at greater scale. The new structure allows cross-brand collaboration and centralized use of facilities like the Nike Sport Research Lab and Bowerman Footwear Lab. Nike says the model is driven by a commitment to deliver performance breakthroughs through closer alignment between research, design, and manufacturing.

“Our north star is a homage to our co-founder, Bill Bowerman, and a challenge Kobe Bryant put to all of us: ‘Create epic s— and make athletes better,’” says Phil McCartney, Chief Innovation, Design and Product Officer, NIKE, Inc., in an official news release. “Everything begins and ends with the athlete’s voice — their goals, their struggles, their drive. By uniting our creation organization across Nike, Jordan and Converse, we’re accelerating progress and fully leveraging our strengths to deliver epic products that make athletes better. It’s a new day in Innovation, Design and Product at Nike.”

🌀 Tom’s Take:

Nike has been an early mover in wearable innovation, having kicked off the fitness tracker movement with the Nike FuelBand over a decade ago. This new structure is sure to help the already innovation-forward company move faster with the latest advancements in sensors and robotics.

Source: Nike