10 arduino project [part 2]

5. Arduino Powered Chess Playing Robot

judging by the sheer number of chess related Instructables, I think it's safe to say the community enjoys the game.  It can be difficult, however, to find someone who plays on the same level you do.  To solve this dilemma, and to increase my playing skills, I built this arduino powered chess playing robot.

The board works like any other xy table, with a few key differences.  First, the x axis has an extra servo attached to it, which raises and lowers a magnet.  The magnet is attracted to pieces on the chess board above, allowing them to move.  Second, embedded in the board are 64 magnetically activated reed switches, allowing the arduino to know the location of each piece.

What I love about this project is its adaptability.  If you decide you're done with it as a chess board, it can instantly convert into a CNC mill by modifying a few pieces.  I'll talk more about this possibility at the end.

All in all, though I learned a lot from this project and had fun building it, the board was not as successful as I had hoped.  The magnets were way too powerful, so extra pieces would almost always drawn in when they shouldn't have. However, with a few thoughtful changes I think this could have been a better, more functional project.  Until I build another, better board, though, I think this Instructable still serves as a pretty good guide to make your own chess robot

6. Make a 24X6 LED matrix

After making a 8X10 matrix a lot of people asked me about expanding the matrix to some thing bigger, and some wanted to write stuff to the matrix via a PC, so one day I looked at a pile of LEDs that I had leftover from a LED cube projected and I decided to make a bigger matrix with all the things people wanted.

So what are you waiting for? Get those LEDs out and heat up your soldering iron because we are about to make a 24X6 LED matrix!

7. Fire Breathing Animetronic Pony 

 For Maker Faire Detroit 2011, I displayed a hack I made to a FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony. My fellow LVL1 Hackers and I had taken control of the motor control system of the toy and added a flame thrower to it.  It seemed to go over really well with the crowd, so I am putting up the information for anyone to make there own.  It was a blast to make and I hope everyone has as much fun remaking it.  Just remember that this project uses Fire and should only be built and operated by no less then 2 adults with appropriate experience in fire safety and proper fire safety equipment on hand.