Maker Built Desk With Moving Wireless Charging
A custom build replaces static charging arrays with a motorized coil system that targets devices on the desk surface.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Consumer Electronics
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HTX Studio has completed a custom-built desk that integrates an automated wireless charging system. The project, finished in 2026, uses computer vision to track device placement and adjust hardware accordingly.
Why it matters
The build addresses the limitations of multi-device charging mats, specifically the high density of coils required for full surface coverage. It serves as a functional realization of the multi-device charging concept originally introduced by Apple's cancelled AirPower project.
A stationary mat covering the same surface area would require 600 individual coils to ensure reliable charging. This build avoids that hardware density by using a single motorized coil that repositions based on camera-identified coordinates.
The players
HTX Studio
A design and engineering channel focused on custom hardware projects and desk setups.
Apple
A consumer electronics manufacturer known for its integrated hardware and software ecosystems.
The details
The desk utilizes a downward-facing camera to identify the precise coordinate of a phone placed on the work surface. Once detected, a motor-driven assembly shifts the wireless charging coil beneath the desk veneer directly under the device's receiver. The build also incorporates a secondary automation: an arm designed to advance a drinking cup toward the user on an hourly schedule. The hardware is managed alongside an integrated Mac mini and standard standing-desk controls.
Timeline
2017: Apple unveiled the original AirPower concept.
2026: HTX Studio completed the desk build.
The Tech Race
This build offers an alternative engineering solution to the challenges that led to the cancellation of the Apple AirPower mat. It prioritizes a motorized approach over the high-density coil arrays typically required for omnidirectional wireless charging.
This DIY desk setup demonstrates a functional path for localized, automated charging that eliminates the need for precision device placement. The project is currently a one-off build by a content creator and is not available for purchase or wide implementation.
The takeaway
This project highlights how mechanical automation can bypass the hardware scaling issues inherent in high-density surface charging. Readers interested in the trajectory of adaptive charging should monitor similar DIY engineering builds for novel approaches to coil-placement logic.
Further reading
For more developments in workspace hardware, explore the Consumer Electronics section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Notebookcheck.
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