At its store in Helsingborg, Sweden, IKEA is testing attachable robotic shoes that run on artificial intelligence and clip onto regular footwear. The Moonwalkers accessory is designed to accelerate order picking while reducing the physical strain on employees.
According to the report, the Moonwalkers adapt to the wearer’s step rhythm. Initial measurements show that staff wearing the device could move up to twice as fast within the store, and average hourly picking productivity increased by 16 percent.
The pilot began after an IKEA employee saw an advertisement for the Moonwalkers and ordered a pair to try them out personally. The shoes are part of IKEA’s global toolkit of more than 40 automated solutions, which includes technologies based on artificial intelligence and robotics.
Sebastian Carlius, IKEA Helsingborg’s head of order fulfilment, said colleagues and customers have received the innovation positively.
The article does not provide additional details about the pilot’s duration, broader rollout plans, or longer‑term effects.
Why it matters
This trial illustrates how wearable robotic technology can boost efficiency in retail logistics while potentially easing physical demands on workers. IKEA’s experiment may serve as a model for other retailers and warehouse operators exploring automation and AI to improve performance and working conditions.
