CONCEPT
My midterm project will be a chess set that generates music and ejects pieces from the board based on Stockfish chess engine analytics. My eventual plan is to implement a physical (hardware) version of the chess set, using magnets in the pieces, Hall Effect sensors in the board, and solenoids beneath the board. However, I may rely on a software version (a chess GUI rather than a physical board) as my initial prototype. Such a version would still be connected to a physical board with solenoids beneath it to demonstrate that aspect of the project.
COMPOSITION
The chess board will be connected to the Stockfish chess engine — the world’s most powerful chess engine, which also happens to be open source. The engine will provide real-time analytics for games-in-progress, providing a score (above 0 if white is winning, below 0 if black is winning), along with the “best move” from any given board position. Mapping these variables to music will provide auditory feedback for players, turning an otherwise normal game of chess into “advanced chess” (chess where both players have access to engine analytics), but without the traditional chess engine interface. The solenoids beneath the board will provide an element of surprise and a unique way to signal that the game has ended, due to one player coming within range of a checkmate.
CONTEXT
Creating an auditory interface for the game of chess could have interesting consequences, both for chess itself and the possibility of applying such an interface to other games. I am not sure how auditory feedback will effect the game, but I hope it will make players more acutely aware of their relative strategic positions at all times. Ideally, it would provide an avenue for improvement by helping people think more like the computer chess engines.
BILL OF MATERIALS
Chess board & housings for Hall Effect sensors
64 Hall Effect sensors
32 (or more) magnets
4 solenoids
1 Arduino Mega
1 Raspberry Pi
16 multiplexor ICs
64 LEDs (if “best move” feature implemented)
TECHNICAL DRAWINGS & IMAGES
Initial Drawing (with conductive pads instead of hall effect sensors):
Rendering of Hall Effect Sensor Enclosure (for laser cutter):
Hall Effect Sensor Enclosure Prototype:
Chess GUI (software version):
SIGNAL CHAIN
Magnets >> Hall Effect Sensors >> Multiplexors >> Arduino >> Raspberry Pi (>> Music) >> Arduino >> Multiplexors >> Solenoids/LEDs
