Charles Van Hook Portfolio

Project overview

Driven by an interest in merging traditional gameplay with modern robotics and AI, this project sought to build a chessboard that could physically move pieces and play against a human. A key objective was to explore AI that could learn from the user's style and create a personalized opponent.

Timeline

6 months (June–November 2022)

Team

Solo project (self-directed)

Role

Lead Engineer

Components

Awards

Best Engineering Create Studio

STATUS

Complete

Tools

KiCad

Arduino IDE (C++)

Fusion 360

Design Process

The mechanical system featured a Core-XY gantry constructed underneath the playing surface, utilizing an electromagnet attached to the gantry to move pieces from below. The chessboard surface itself incorporated reed switches embedded within each square to detect the presence and location of pieces, which contained magnets. The physical design focused on enabling smooth, automated piece movement across the board.

3D Render/CAD

Software / Electronics

A custom circuit board managed the system, controlled by a Raspberry Pi. Reed switches provided positional input to track the game state. The electromagnet was precisely controlled to target and move individual pieces. Software employed a standard min-max algorithm for onboard AI, with the capability to connect online for more complex algorithms. A unique feature involved learning algorithms that analyzed a user's gameplay over time to generate a personalized AI opponent.

Electronics

SOFTWARE

Challenges

A primary mechanical challenge was ensuring the electromagnet could move a target piece without magnetically disturbing adjacent pieces or prematurely triggering their reed switches. Precise magnetic field control and piece/magnet design were crucial. Electrically, activating the correct reed switch reliably with the piece magnets, without interference from the movement electromagnet, required careful component selection, placement, and potentially magnetic shielding or orientation strategies.

MEDIA

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