I noticed that too. Almost no videos of him stopping. Even with a normal "fast walk" pace it can be a problem slowing yourself down on a sidewalk if someone unexpectedly turns or if you didn't see the pile a dog owner (or from a human in SF) didn't pick up in front of you until its too late.

It's also troubling that you have to "signal" the boots to turn into "lock mode" for stairs. Seems like potential for user error there as you have to slow down, then awkwardly turn your foot in just the right way in order to start your ascent on the stairs. To be fair it looks like you wont necessarily slip if you dont engage the "lock mode" but it also seems weird that a lock mode would even be necessary.

As long as both feet aren't in the air at the same time it's walking.

The main thing that separates speed walking ("race walking") from running is that you must always have a point of contact with the ground.

That said, I've seen some articles of high speed video taken of pro race walkers and basically all of them have tiny moments where both feet are off the ground. Just not egregious enough for a referee to detect.

In general, seems like a really contrived sport, but to each his own...

I think it's technically walking as long as one foot is always on the ground.

$1400 doesn't seem that bad for the very first product of this type compared to other e-mobility stuff. E-bikes can cost around that price point (and way more of course) and they're a mature category. Scooters are much cheaper of course, but again, this is the first product of this type.

I'm assuming different wheels are accelerating at slightly different speeds so you aren't hitting the pavement with a tread going at full speed. It needs to adjust to the different speed of your gait at different points of your step.

That's why the "tank tread" likely wouldn't work here.

No. There's a lot of climbing up stairs, pulling on things, and stopping quickly to stay out of the way of multi-ton vehicles with dangerous pointy things on the front (forklifts). Your feet hurt enough walking on miles of concrete all day, these would not even pass safety standards, falling is already too much of a hazard to want a fancy roller skate on one's feet.

For some warehouses they already use bikes.

The website says 250% increase.