Designers Created Remote Device to Knock on Wood
A new robotic system allows users to trigger a physical knock on trees, exploring the intersection of superstition and technology.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Robotics
Live Poll
Do you believe modern technology should be used to facilitate traditional superstitions like knocking on wood?
Designers Shashwath Santosh and Nithin Eluvathingal have developed a remote device that performs a tactile knock on trees. Part of the Machines Responding to Superstitions project, the unit enables users to interact with nature via a web interface.
Why it matters
The project uses robotics to investigate human superstitions concerning luck in a digital age. By bridging remote users with physical trees, it highlights how telepresence can manifest abstract cultural beliefs into tangible mechanical actions.
The device utilizes a Wi-Fi connection to interface with a central server that relays commands from a web app. Upon receiving a signal, the integrated robotic arm executes exactly two light taps against the surface of the tree.
The players
Shashwath Santosh
A designer based in New York who explores the intersection of physical objects and cultural concepts.
Nithin Eluvathingal
A researcher based in Toronto focused on machines and their relationship to human behavior.
The details
The system consists of a small hardware unit secured to tree bark with a red strap, featuring an onboard display screen. When a user presses a red button on the companion web application, a signal is transmitted over Wi-Fi to a server, which triggers the mechanical actuator to physically strike the tree. This process translates digital input into a localized, real-world action.
Timeline
October 5, 2026: Official publication of the device launch.
The Tech Race
This project is a component of the Machines Responding to Superstitions research series, which explores how automated systems can participate in human rituals. It reflects a growing niche in experimental robotics that prioritizes cultural inquiry over industrial efficiency.
The device is currently an experimental project that requires a Wi-Fi connection and the associated web app to function. While not a commercial product for general purchase, it demonstrates how low-latency remote hardware can bridge distances for simple, symbolic physical interactions.
The takeaway
The project challenges how we manifest abstract cultural ideas through mechanical interfaces. Future observers should track the expansion of the Machines Responding to Superstitions series to see if these devices move beyond single-action triggers to more complex ritualistic behaviors.
Further reading
For more on the latest trends in mechanical automation, visit the Robotics section.
Live Poll
Do you believe modern technology should be used to facilitate traditional superstitions like knocking on wood?
