Moonwalkers X robotic shoes.

Shift Robotics unveils Moonwalkers X robotic shoes

Shift Robotics unveiled Moonwalkers X as the latest version of its robotic shoes.

The Austin, Texas-based company made the announcement ahead of CES 2024, the tech trade show in Las Vegas next week.

The Moonwalkers X is an enhanced iteration of the original Moonwalkers model, with improvements in weight, agility, and safety. The company aims to change the landscape of workplace mobility with these Robocop shoes.

Distinguished by a host of advanced features, the Moonwalkers X exhibit several key enhancements compared to their predecessors.

These include a substantial reduction in weight by nearly one pound per shoe, an overhaul of the control system enhancing maneuverability and safety, improved shock absorption to minimize repetitive injury risks, and a redesigned framework, emphasizing modularity and customization.

A new aspect of the Moonwalkers X is their adaptability to smaller shoe sizes, making them ideal for commercial applications where employees engage in extensive walking, such as distribution, logistics, and warehouse settings, involving as many as 30,000 steps per day.

Scheduled for release in the first half of 2024, the Moonwalkers X pricing will be unveiled concurrently with their availability in the market. Shift Robotics has earmarked a limited quantity of Moonwalkers X for innovative companies seeking priority access, offering a CES 2024 Show Special to interested parties.

Xunjie Zhang, CEO of Shift Robotics, is the visionary behind Moonwalkers.

In a statement, he said, “With Moonwalkers X, we’ve redefined lightweight mobility by trimming nearly a pound from the original design. Our revamped drivetrain, magnesium alloy-based frame, and shock-absorbing wheels converge to offer the smoothest, most efficient warehouse navigation ever.”

Emphasizing productivity without compromising safety, Zhang highlighted the substantial improvements embedded within the ShiftOS 2.0 control system, aimed at enhancing traction control, acceleration, braking, and gait detection for secure and seamless movement.

Shift Robotics cited instances where Moonwalkers substantially boosted productivity, doubling the efficiency of warehouse workers and saving nearly 400 hours annually in travel time for employees.

Anticipating even greater results with the Moonwalkers X, Zhang foresees transformative outcomes for businesses deploying these devices in distribution centers, warehouses, logistics facilities, and retail settings.

Dean Takahashi

Dean Takahashi is editorial director for GamesBeat at VentureBeat. He has been a tech journalist since 1988, and he has covered games as a beat since 1996. He was lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat from 2008 to April 2025. Prior to that, he wrote for the San Jose Mercury News, the Red Herring, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the Dallas Times-Herald. He is the author of two books, "Opening the Xbox" and "The Xbox 360 Uncloaked." He organizes the annual GamesBeat Next, GamesBeat Summit and GamesBeat Insider Series: Hollywood and Games conferences and is a frequent speaker at gaming and tech events. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.