im a physics/design student not an engineer but if you are all serious about thias then make it easier for yourselves, to begin with at least.
why not take the battery away and put it in a backpack etc this will give you more room for motors and electrics in the boots. also it will mean you can make it bigger whist staying discreet.
i know that in the anime the shoes are triggered but weight but for a first prototype just get the things working and then worry about variable resistors to change output later because manipulating circuits is pretty easy. as far as the motors go there was a post about power tools which is a good idea on account of power to size ratio.
rather than trying to jump straight to trecks why not try to make mechanized blades, rather than working blind. to start just make the design as simple as possible which will probably mean that its cheaper as well.
Rome wasnt built in a day
