Similar Idea is used with Uchigane upgrade in all verse of my stories, it's used so the unit can rapidly enter CQC range. (either to drag enemy toward you or drag yourself into them)
It was first tested by Motemitsu (larger prototype) and Ichika (smaller prototype), but the final product is applied to all Uchigane in academy, even Houki used it during individual tournament.
Like this.