The Mechanical Turk

The Mechanical Turk (project)

Overview

The Mechanical Turk is a technical and artisanal chessboard project developed within the Dutch hackerspace Hackerspace RandomData. It combines woodworking, 3D printing, NFC technology, robotics, and Python development to create a physical chessboard that synchronizes with digital chess games played on platforms like Chess.com.

Moves from an online opponent are physically executed on the board by a hidden robotic arm, while moves made on the physical board are detected and sent back to the online game. The name is a modern reference to the 18th-century chess automaton known as The Mechanical Turk, which falsely appeared to play autonomously. This version is fully transparent and truly functional.

Project Lead

The project is led by 0ffset_0x52, also known as UEV52. Those interested in contributing can contact him via SignalChat or the Mattermost channel of Hackerspace RandomData.

Goals

• Build a working physical chessboard that mirrors and controls online games
• Automate physical piece movement using a robotic magnetic arm
• Enable real-world games against Chess.com opponents and AI bots
• Create a platform that fuses old-world craftsmanship with modern automation

Technical Design

• Each chess piece contains a unique NFC tag
• A magnetic robotic arm moves along X, Y, and Z axes beneath the board
• Pieces are lifted magnetically and placed using scripted coordinates
• The system tracks each piece's position via NFC scans
• All movement and logic are handled via a custom Python script
• Synchronization with Chess.com is achieved using their public API

Required Components

Component	Specification / Version	Description
Raspberry Pi	Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (4GB RAM)	Controls motor logic, NFC reading, and API communication
Operating System	Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit	Platform for running scripts
Programming Language	Python 3.11	Controls logic and hardware
NFC Reader	PN532 (I2C)	Detects pieces based on tag IDs
NFC Tags	NTAG213 / NTAG215	Unique ID per chess piece
Stepper Motors	NEMA 17 + A4988 drivers	Moves the magnetic arm along X/Y grid
Servo Motor	SG90 or MG995	Controls vertical lifting (Z-axis)
Magnet	Neodymium (6×3 mm)	Picks up pieces magnetically
Chess Pieces	3D printed in PLA+	Finished by hand: sanded, primed, painted, polished
Board Material	Mahogany, walnut, maple	Layered and lacquered for appearance
Tools	Circular saw, sander, engraver, clamps	Used in board construction
Finishing Materials	Acrylic paint, filler primer, lacquer	For visual quality and durability
Connectivity	WiFi or Ethernet	For online integration with Chess.com

Example Code

Below is a simple Python example that retrieves the last move from a Chess.com game and prints it:

<syntaxhighlight lang=\"python\"> import requests

def get_last_move(game_id):

   url = f\"https://api.chess.com/pub/game/{game_id}\"
   response = requests.get(url)
   data = response.json()
   moves = data['moves'].split()
   return moves[-1] if moves else None

move = get_last_move('example-game-id')

if move == 'a2a4':

   print(\"Move pawn from A2 to A4\")
   # Insert motor control logic here

</syntaxhighlight>

Construction Timeline

Phase 1: Planning and Design (Weeks 1–2)

• Create CAD designs for chess pieces
• Define board layout and grid mechanics
• Choose wood types for contrast and durability

Phase 2: 3D Printing and Finishing (Weeks 3–4)

• Print pieces in PLA+ filament
• Sand, prime, paint, and polish each piece
• Affix NFC tags to the bottom of each piece

Phase 3: Board Construction (Weeks 5–6)

• Cut and shape wood components
• Route out internal space for grid and arm
• Inlay or engrave chess squares
• Assemble and lacquer the board

Phase 4: Mechanical Arm (Weeks 7–8)

• Assemble X/Y movement system using stepper motors
• Integrate vertical servo-lifting mechanism
• Test magnetic pickup and alignment

Phase 5: Software Development (Weeks 9–10)

• Write motor control scripts in Python
• Integrate NFC reader and calibrate tag detection
• Connect to Chess.com API and handle logic

Phase 6: Testing and Integration (Weeks 11–12)

• Full system test with online games
• Refine movements and calibrate grid
• Add logging, error handling, and safety checks

Future Expansions

• Add local AI support via Stockfish (chess engine)
• Use RGB LEDs for visual feedback
• Add sound effects for capture, check, and checkmate
• Integrate OLED display to show current notation
• Enable voice control or multiplayer sync between boards

Historical Context

The original Mechanical Turk was a hoax automaton built by Wolfgang von Kempelen in 1770. Though it appeared to play chess autonomously, it concealed a hidden human operator. This project reimagines the same premise using modern technologies—robotics, NFC, and open-source software—to achieve the illusion in reality, transparently and without deception.

See Also

• Chess.com
• Stockfish (chess engine)
• Raspberry Pi
• Hackerspace
• Wolfgang von Kempelen

External Links

• Chess.com
• Hackerspace RandomData