The Future of Walking Begins With Dephy
By Kelli Luu | 04 Dec, 2025

The world’s first commercial robotic exoskeleton footwear is in the works as Nike partners with bionic footwear company, Dephy.

When robotics don’t look like machines, they can look like everyday shoes and the brains at Dephy aren’t replacing our abilities, but restoring them instead. Dephy is designing the future of human movement, building some of the most advanced wearable technology in the world. 

Founded in 2016, Dephy is a spin out from MIT's very own Media Lab which is known as a top research center globally. Dephy describes themselves as a bionic footwear and apparel company that has goals of empowering natural movement through robotics. 

Their flagship product is the ExoBoot, one of the world’s first ankle exoskeletons to be available commercially. It is used in physical rehab centers, research labs, and even in military training environments. The exoskeleton uses a small motor and belt-drive system that helps assist your step, giving you a powerboost every time you move forward. 

Since launching in 2016, Dephy has gone through 47 different hardware generations, meaning their pace of innovation is immaculate. In less than a decade, the company has been able to quickly improve their motors, sensors, batteries, and user experience, which is setting Dephy apart from any competition. 

While robotics have mostly been found in laboratories or hospitals, Dephy is now pushing mobility technology into everyday lifestyles. Their newest system, Sidekick, is in the works and it is being designed to adapt to anyone’s natural walking patterns, making it easier to walk longer distances or just simply assist with everyday movements. 

With this technology, Dephy has partnered with Nike who has recently unveiled Project Amplify, the brand’s first powered footwear blueprint. Project Amplify will combine a special Nike shoe with Dephy’s exoskeleton technology, a calf battery cuff, and sensors that analyze your stride in real time. It is being described as a “supportive extension of your legs” that helps reduce fatigue and maintain a consistent walking pace. This will be the very first time tech-powered daily footwear will be available to consumers and not just professionals. Nike has already reported over 400 tests that have been conducted while they are still in the prototype phase. 

Dephy is looking to restore, support, and power the way humans move. What started as a niche company inside the MIT Media Lab has become a huge player in the next generation of wearable technology.