A Comparative Analysis of Systems for Single-Tile Chess Piece Capture Mechanisms

This research addresses the inefficiency of capture moves in automated chess, where current systems typically use the same mechanism for both standard movement and piece capture, resulting in significantly increased time, energy, and calculation. This study aims to offer a faster alternative by presenting and analysing two novel, capture-dedicated mechanisms designed to be integrated into existing automated boards. The proposed systems are designed to fit under each tile and function as a trapdoor, opening to allow a captured piece to fall into the chessboard’s interior while a separate mechanism moves the capturing piece. Two designs were developed: the coupler-tile and the follower-tile model. They both utilize a combination of four-bar linkages and cam & follower systems to achieve a controlled lift and tilt. The 3D CAD models were created in Autodesk’s Fusion v.2604. They were simulated and analysed using Rigid Body Dynamics simulations in ANSYS to evaluate displacement, velocity, acceleration, and joint forces over a 3-second motion. The quantitative analysis confirmed that both designs achieved the intended smooth, non-colliding motion. The follower-tile design was found to be simpler and offer greater mobility, whereas the coupler-tile design, being more complex, showed lower overall forces on its joints, suggesting improved longevity. Both mechanisms successfully demonstrate a capture time significantly faster than current automated methods, proving the viability of dedicated capture systems.