This DIY standing desk controller provides luxury car-style memory settings

One of the best features you’ll find on a fancy luxury car is seat position memory. Typically, there are at least two profiles that “save” the position of the seat. When switching drivers, the new seat occupant can simply push the button for their profile and the seat will automatically move to their saved position. Tired of adjusting it manually, Andy of Yeah Nah DIY implemented a similar memory function into the controller he built for his standing desk.

There are a lot of motorized, adjustable standing desks on the market and some of them do have memory settings. But the model Andy owns didn’t have the functionality. Instead, it just had two buttons to raise or lower the desk. His DIY controller solves that problem, making the desk far more convenient to use from day to day.

The original controller was very simple, with two buttons to activate the motor (one with reversed polarity). Basic limit switches disconnected power to prevent collisions.

The new controller, controlled by an Arduino Nano Every board on a custom PCB, has similar buttons, but also three memory positions. To find those positions, the Arduino needs to know how high the desk is at any given time. Andy added an encoder to the elevation screw to count revolutions, which are then used to calculate distance and therefore height. With that feedback the Arduino controls power to the desk’s motors via relays and also monitors the limit switches.

The Arduino and custom PCB fit into a nice, minimalist enclosure that mounts onto the front of the desk within easy reach. All of the 3D models and the Arduino sketch file are available for download if you have a similar desk and want to upgrade it in the same way.