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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteA maker using the Reddit handle Refeying says a Raspberry Pi 5-powered wooden chessboard has completed its first full match. A CoreXY mechanism moves an electromagnet beneath the board, while Hall sensors track pieces. The build can run several chess engines and save games, but online play, voice commands and the finished LCD menu were still in development in the maker’s October 3, 2026 post.
How the self-moving chessboard works
Refeying’s design combines a computer, a motion controller and a sensor array. The Raspberry Pi 5 is identified as the main computer; a Pico SKR V1.0 controls a CoreXY system that carries an electromagnet beneath the wooden board. The magnet moves pieces fitted to work with the mechanism, although the post does not specify the pieces’ construction or the electromagnet’s model.
For piece detection, the maker reports 64 omnidirectional Hall sensors arranged across eight custom PCBs. The boards connect through pin headers and an IO expander. The build also includes momentary push buttons, status LEDs and a 5-inch LCD embedded in a side wall. The post does not identify the exact sensor, expander, display or motor models, nor the Pi 5 memory configuration or power arrangement. These are the maker’s descriptions, not independently inspected specifications. Refeying’s project post and discussion
What it can do—and what remains unfinished
The maker lists Stockfish, Maia3, Rodent IV and Patricia as available chess engines. The board can record games in PGN format and save positions, so the maker can switch it off and resume later.
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#1 Best Overall
- Multiple Functions: Each of the six legs has three motors, the rotatable head has a camera and an ultrasonic distance sensor (Assembly required) (Raspberry Pi and Battery NOT included)
- Detailed Tutorial: Provides step-by-step assembly guide and complete Python code (The download link can be found on the product box) (No paper tutorial)
- Compatible Models: Raspberry Pi 5 / 4B / 3B+ / 3B / 3A+ (2B / 1B+ / 1A+ / Zero 2 W / Zero W / Zero 1.3 is also compatible but needs extra parts) (NOT included in this kit)
- Control Methods: Controlled wirelessly by your Android phone or tablet, iPhone (with Freenove App) and computer (run Windows, macOS or Raspberry Pi OS)
- Battery NOT Included: Please refer to the downloaded tutorial to buy
Refeying reports having played a full match for the first time, writing: “Still a long road ahead, but truly happy that today, for the first time, I could sit down and play a full match with it :D!” That milestone is distinct from the project’s unfinished features: the maker described connections to Lichess and Chess.com, voice-command input and the LCD menu as works in progress. The post mentions plans for a PDF or video guide and movement and logic code after a more finished version, but does not establish that those materials have been released.
Piece tracking, captures and awkward moves
The board’s sensors do not remove the need to tell the system where a human has placed a piece. In the discussion, Refeying says the player must be instructed where to put a piece so the board can know its location. Captured pieces go into “graveyard” slots, which are filled in succession. These are constraints described for this particular build, not a general rule for automated chessboards.
Rank #2
- AI-Powered Raspberry Pi Smart Car — PiCar-X: PiCar-X brings AI learning to life — powered by Openclaw and multi-LLMs including ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Qwen, Doubao, Ollama (Local LLMs), and compatible with many more AI platforms. Featuring OpenCV, MediaPipe, TTS & STT, PiCar-X enables true AI vision and voice interaction — it can see, listen, talk, drive and think like an intelligent companion. Ideal for students (10+), educators, and engineers, PiCar-X is the perfect gateway to explore AI, robotics, and machine learning on Raspberry Pi 5/4/3B+/3B/Zero 2W (Raspberry Pi not included)
- Engaging Interactions with Multi-LLMs: PiCar-X, powered by Openclaw and multi-LLMs — including ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Qwen, Doubao, and Ollama (Local LLMs) — and compatible with many other AI platforms, supports voice interaction and visual recognition to make the robot smarter and more responsive. Users can enjoy natural AI conversations, solve math problems through the camera, and interpret gestures, unlocking a world of diverse and fun AI-driven interactions
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A commenter also asked how a knight can move out from behind other pieces. Refeying says that, for castling, the board moves the king first and routes the rook around the edge. For Chess960, the maker says the rook may first be moved to a corner as it would be for a capture. That explanation describes the maker’s approach; the post does not document every move or obstruction case.
How this approach compares with other chess robots
Other documented projects illustrate different ways to move pieces and determine their positions. They are examples of design choices, not head-to-head tests, so they do not show which approach is cheapest, easiest, fastest or most reliable.
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Rank #3
- Multiple Functions: Crawler chassis, liftable clamp, camera and ultrasonic distance sensor (Assembly required) (Raspberry Pi and Battery NOT included)
- Detailed Tutorial: Provides step-by-step assembly guide and complete Python code (The download link can be found on the product box) (No paper tutorial)
- Compatible Models: Raspberry Pi 5 / 4B / 3B+ / 3B / 3A+ (2B / 1B+ / 1A+ / Zero 2 W / Zero W / Zero 1.3 is also compatible but needs extra parts) (NOT included in this kit)
- Control Methods: Controlled wirelessly by your Android phone or tablet, iPhone (with Freenove App) and computer (run Windows, macOS or Raspberry Pi OS)
- Battery NOT Included: Please refer to the downloaded tutorial to buy
| Project | How it moves pieces | How it tracks the board | Computing and control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refeying’s Pi 5 board | Under-board CoreXY mechanism with an electromagnet | 64 omnidirectional Hall sensors on eight custom PCBs | Pi 5 named as computer; Pico SKR V1.0 controls the mechanism, according to the maker |
| Automated chessboard | Electromagnet on aluminium rails, moved in two directions by stepper motors and belts | Not stated in the article | Arduino Nano provides control |
| ChessBot | Under-board, step-driven electromagnet gantry; pieces are magnetized | Magnetic sensors under the squares | README describes computer and online chess features, Stockfish installation directions, and installation work still in progress; PCB assembly and testing are listed tasks |
| Hailo AI RoboChess | Six-servo, 3D-printed arm controlled by an ESP32 | Camera-based chessboard image recognition | Raspberry Pi 5 with a Hailo8 processor and Stockfish; README warns that it requires a customized PyHailort version and will not work with the standard release |
| Raspberry Turk | Robotic arm with an electromagnet; pieces have small metal dowel sections for pickup | Camera-based | Older Raspberry Pi 3 build |
The main architectural trade-off is between moving a magnet under the board and physically reaching pieces with an arm. An under-board gantry keeps the mechanism out of sight but depends on compatible pieces and reliable position tracking. A camera-and-arm approach identifies the board visually and reaches pieces from above, while adding the challenges of image recognition and arm movement. The projects also divide computing and motor control differently: a main computer may handle chess logic and vision while a separate controller operates motors or servos.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the project post does not establish
The October 3, 2026 post is a progress report, not a complete build specification. It does not provide exact component models, a full bill of materials, power requirements, measured speed or reliability, or confirmation that the promised guide and code are publicly available. Anyone hoping to reproduce the build would need those details rather than relying on the component categories alone.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Smart wifi robot: XR TH is a smart wifi robot car based on Raspberry Pi, built on a tracked tank chassis, using high-quality metal gear servos and 2DOF HD cameras, equipped with 4DOF robotic arms and ultrasonic infrared sensors, and programmed with Python, suitable for experimental projects or school training for Teens Adults adults.
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- Real time transmission of HD video: The tank robot is equipped with 2 DOF camera, which can realize real-time transmission of HD video through the WiFi hotspot on the Raspberry Pi to achieve FPV effects. 2DOF PTZ can rotate 180° up and down, left and right, and can achieve camera shooting at any angle without moving the car.
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Rank #4
- Pi5 8GB Pack: RasTech Pi 5 8GB kit includes 1 x Pi5 8GB board ,1 x 64GB Card, 2 x Card Readers,1 x Active Cooler,1 x Case for Pi5, 2 x 4K Micro HD Out Cable,1 x GaN 27W 5A USB-C Power supply,1 x Screwdriver and 1 x instructions.
- Pi5 8GB Board: The Pi5 board is equipped with a 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz and an 800MHz VideoCore VII GPU with support for OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.2, which delivers a significant increase in graphics performance. Dual HD Out 4Kp60 display outputs and a built-in dual 4-channel MIPI camera/display transceiver provide state-of-the-art camera support. The Pi 5 offers a 2-3 times increase in CPU performance compare to Pi4.
- Important Graphics Features: Equipped with an 800MHz VideoCore VII GPU and providing better graphics performance, suitable for multimedia applications,gaming,and graphics intensive tasks.Provides 1 UART interface,1 card slot that supports high-speed operation, 2 USB. 3 0.5 ports that support synchronous 0Gbps operation,2 USB 2.0 port ports,2 4Kp60 display outputs that support HDR.Built-in dedicated dual 4-channel 1Gbps MIPI DSI/CSI connectors,triple the total bandwidth.
- Cooling Kit for Pi 5: Compatible with Active Cooler for Raspberry Pi5, It can provide Pi 5 board with better cooling effect in using. The Case can accurately access usb-c power jack,Micro HD Out ports, usb ports, Ethernet jack, card slot, power button, 4-lane MIPI DSI/CSI connectors and so on, and it also supports installation of cooling fan.
- 64GB Card Kit and GaN 27W USB-C Power Supply: With extra 64GB card to store more files and card readers for multiple medium, keep better performance for Raspberry Pi 5, 27W USB C Power Supply is Compatible with Pi5 8GB, offers a variety of output voltage options, including 5.1V at 5A, 9.0V at 3.0A, 12.0V at 2.25A, and 15.0V at 1.8A, providing for different device requirements.
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