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Carpentopod: A walking table project

decarpentier.nl · 7,925 words · saved by 1 readers

Back in 2008, I wrote some software for fun to generate various optimized walking mechanisms. And when I also picked up some electronics and wood working skills in more recent years, I was able to turn one of these mechanisms into an actual wireless walking wooden coffee table: the Carpentopod. This post briefly covers this project from start to end. The Carpentopod leg linkage itself was generated by some software I wrote that evolved thousands of virtual generations of leg variations by having them compete against each other. To select which ones were best, each variation got assigned a ‘fitness’ score based on its walking speed, clearance and material use. I also rewarded extra points to variants that had leg tips which moved more horizontally and more smoothly during the lowest third of their cycle to make it favor solutions in which a group of three legs would work together to minimize bobbing and foot slip. Each leg variation’s fitness score was then compared, and only the best o

Carpentopod: A walking table project Giliam de Carpentier Gametech & Making Blog Home About WHIMSYBUILDS Carpentopod: A walking table project September 9, 2024 Maker Back in 2008, I wrote some software for fun to generate various optimized walking mechanisms. And when I also picked up some electronics and wood working skills in more recent years, I was able to turn one of these mechanisms into an actual wireless walking wooden coffee table: the Carpentopod. This post briefly covers this project from start to end. Designing a new linkage The Carpentopod leg linkage itself was generated by some

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