Meet Carpentopod: Tank-like 12-legged robot table that walks like a boss

A programmer has created a 12-legged walking coffee table that resembles a crab on the move.

Named Carpentopod, the innovation was created by Giliam de Carpentier, a programmer at Guerrilla Games.

The table’s unique movement stems from its legs, which were evolved through algorithms rather than manually designed.

After testing an earlier linkage model, De Carpentier designed a legged coffee table using CNC-machined laminated bamboo for precision and durability. Autodesk Fusion 360 helped him model and refine the design, including a curved central “belly” to house electronics and motors.

According to its maker, two motors power the table’s legs, each controlling six legs via crankshafts. This allows the table to move and turn smoothly, much like a tank.

Evolved walking table

De Carpentier developed the Carpentopod’s leg linkage using custom software that evolved thousands of virtual variations. Each leg design was scored for walking speed, clearance, and material use, with extra points for smooth horizontal movements that minimized bobbing and foot slip.

Top-performing designs were selected to mix their parameters, while genetic mutations introduced new solutions. Written in C++, the simulation evolved designs rapidly, eventually producing the Carpentopod’s final leg linkage.

Inspired by Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest, the Carpentopod linkage features different component ratios, an extra joint, and a rounded toe to reduce foot slide. De Carpentier used CNC-machined laminated bamboo for sub-millimeter precision and durability, building a 12-legged walking coffee table.

Autodesk Fusion 360 helped him refine the design, which includes a curved central “belly” to house electronics, motors, and a battery. Two motors power the table’s legs, enabling it to move and turn like a tank.

Precision-powered design

De Carpentier turned his 3D design for the Carpentopod into a physical table by using a 3-axis CNC router for precision. CNC machining allowed him to easily produce twelve identical wooden parts, crucial for the 12-legged structure.

Due to the limitations of the 3-axis CNC, which can only remove material from the top, De Carpentier designed the leg parts to be made from three laminated bamboo sheets, CNC-ed separately and glued together. He CNC-ed more than 100 bamboo parts, then sanded, lacquered, and assembled them with ball bearings and steel shafts.

The design also required two crankshafts, which he crafted from aluminum rods and sheets. According to his blog, he kerfed, steamed, and dried laminated bamboo in a jig to achieve the desired shape for the table’s curved belly doors, then attached it with invisible hinged ribs and magnets. De Carpentier also made a matching piece of furniture from mango timber.

He used two 24V brushless motors originally designed for automated curtains to power the table. After facing issues with low-speed performance, he bypassed the motors’ electronics, directly controlling voltage with a lab power supply. De

Carpentier repurposed an Arduino Nano board to adjust motor voltage and speed to automate control, using Step Up/Down Converter modules. He wrote custom software to create a closed-loop motor control system and added a Bluetooth module to receive joystick commands from a modified Nunchuck controller.

With a 14.8V LiPo battery installed, De Carpentier’s table can walk wirelessly around his living room, making it a unique but fun creation—even capable of delivering drinks.

According to its maker, since his post about the walking table went public, many people have inquired about obtaining one. “I’ve decided to release the Carpentopod linkage itself as public domain. So if you have the skills, feel free to use the details below to build your own set of legs!” said De Carpentier in a blog post .