This device, first of all, is not a crab that uses the Bluetooth low energy protocol for communications. It is, in fact, a “crab table.” Based on Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest walker, this much smaller version stands at around seven inches tall, and has a clear acrylic table mounted on top. This might not be big enough for a dinner table, but it might make a great substitute for a lazy Susan. Perhaps several of these could march around a larger table, sending food anywhere needed!
The table uses Jansen’s ingenious method of linkages to act as a set of wheels, with two DC motors in the center to power everything. You can see the design process in the video below. Interestingly, two differently-sized crab-bles are shown stacked on top of each other around the 2:15 mark, as well as a rendering of a full-sized table a littler later. Perhaps we will see more versions from the Mectok Store in the future!
Though a derivative of Janson’s linkage method, I can attest to the fact that it takes a lot of work to adapt something like that to your own purposes. It’s neat to see others keep running with this concept!
