Carpentopod is a walking coffee table created by Dutch game developer Giliam de Carpentier. Inspired by Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests, Carpentier developed software to generate and test leg mechanisms. By simulating their performance, the software evolved a leg design optimized for smooth walking, speed, and efficient use of materials.
Since 2008, Carpentier has developed his building skills and acquired a CNC machine. Combining these with his passion for design, he decided to create a practical, walking piece of furniture.
The final design features twelve legs made from laminated bamboo plywood, steel shafts, ball bearings, and two aluminum crankshafts. It’s powered by two brushless motors from automated curtain systems, controlled by an Arduino board and operated remotely with a joystick.
After launching the project on his website, people asked Carpentier if they could buy his leg linkages. Instead of producing them, he made the design open-source.
