You could wait for Apple to finally release its tabletop bot with a face-tracking, movable screen, but if you want something that plays more into your rustic home decor, you could get some inspiration from “Carpentopod.” As you might have noticed in the video below, it’s a remote-controlled table that scoots by on cute crab legs. The short, stocky remote control end table keeps drinks stable and still fits neatly into the corner when it has done its duty.
Carpentopod has 12 rotating pincer-shaped feet and a sanded flat top, which would be perfect for setting a drink on after a long day covering tech products. It’s powered by twin motors that power four sets of three limbs. It’s a relatively simple operation that relies on years of development and fine, hand-made craftsmanship. It’s also the darn cutest little moving table I’ve seen since watching TARS strut around in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar.
The creator, Giliam de Carpentier, is a senior programmer at Guerilla Games, the studio that most recently created Horizon Forbidden West. He’s also a home DIY tinkerer, coder, and carpenter. He’s developed a few other doohickeys, such as a standalone wireless PC joystick made from a Nintendo Wii Nunchuck controller. That’s the same device he’s using to control his leg-mounted furniture in the video.
In an email with Gizmodo, de Carpentier said he became “fascinated” by leg-based systems more than a decade ago, calling them “both technical and minimalistic, but [they] move more natural and graceful than other forms of non-biological movement.” If you’re familiar with the famed Strandbeest kinetic sculptures developed by Dutch artist Theo Jansen, then you have a better idea of what he’s talking about. Otherwise, these so-called “linkage” systems are the leg-based form of locomotion.
Back in 2008, the engineer said—on a whim—he coded a genetic algorithm into C++ that could generate multiple leg variation simulations. In his blog post, de Carpentier described how his program assigned a “fitness” score to each set of legs based on its speed, clearance, and material he used. His code then mixed and matched the best of each set until it spits out a fast and stable limb. He found his perfect limb by focusing on a minimized design that could still move with the precision of a ballerina. The process alone took several months.
“Strandbeests are the pinnacle of that grace, at least, in my opinion,” de Carpentier said. “Trying to capture nature or reality in a simulation to understand and appreciate it better is something that I’ve done since I was young, and this is probably also the reason I got into game development in the first place.”
Carpentopod’s actual development started a few years ago. The two 24V motors inside the walking table drive a separate crankshaft on either side. It can turn in place just by adjusting the speed and direction of each motor. The engineer told us that each leg is optimized at 120 degrees, so there’s always one leg stabilizing one of the four corners at all times. The design means it doesn’t handle any sort of slope or rough terrain well. It’s a remote-controlled table that’s most comfortable on a flat living room floor, particularly with no stray books or toys lying around.
As for the build, the table is made of sheets of laminated bamboo, which helps keep it relatively light and reduces the amount of energy needed to move it around. De Carpentier crafted the wood parts with a simple 3-axis CNC router, then used some store-bought ball bearings and steel shafts. The game programmer said the design was especially focused on minimizing bobbing. Otherwise, you’d be hesitant to place anything fragile or spillable on top. Just don’t try riding it.
Though not sluggish, the table is not designed to run around forever. De Carpentier told Gizmodo he estimated the LiPo batteries would hold out for at least 15 minutes of active use. It’s not running any marathons, that’s for sure, but I imagine you can stick a bar on top and surprise house guests when you ask them what they’d like to drink.
De Carpentier published the linkage diagram on his blog. This means that if you have the know-how, materials, and time, you could create your own set of legs to power your rendition of mobile furniture. The engineer said you’ll need pairs of three for the best results.
The creator added that he’s been somewhat “overwhelmed” by the positive response from other makers online. He’s considered adding more automation to it, but that might ruin its rustic aesthetic with a slate of extra sensors.
“But if there’s ever going to be version 2, that might change,” he said.
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