The Pi Board is an advanced automated chess system powered by a Raspberry Pi, utilizing an XY stepper motor mechanism and magnets to move chess pieces seamlessly across the board.
The development process involved several key stages, including precise calibration of stepper motor coordinates, calculating the weight of each piece for accurate handling, integrating a robust chess engine, and optimizing piece-grabbing strategies and movement detection. Special attention was given to selecting the most efficient algorithm to minimize the stepper motors’ power consumption.
The Pi Board allows players to choose their preferred side and adjust the difficulty level of the chess engine, offering a tailored gaming experience. Additionally, it has the capability to connect to the internet, enabling users to engage in remote chess matches over the network.
“The inspiration to build this automated chess machine struck after watching several demonstrations of the Square Off chess board. Wanting to create a unique version of my own, I chose to test with an Arduino and then selected the Raspberry Pi as the primary processor for the project.
To handle the movement of the pieces, I employed stepper motors along with a custom-designed, 3D-printed rail system, which proved to be an ideal solution for precise and efficient piece handling.”
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