Current batch: First batch
To ensure smooth production of the first batch of Chessnut Move, we’re offering pre-orders exclusively on our website. Pre-order customers will enjoy the biggest discount ever (it won’t get any lower, no matter the promotion!).
To maintain the highest delivery quality and timeliness, we’ve limited the first batch to 500 sets each for the wooden and plastic chess piece sets. Once the first
batch sells out, the second batch of pre-orders will begin, with delivery estimated about a month later.
The pre-sale price will not increase before the first batch of products is shipped next year. And refunds are available anytime before shipment.
Delivery:
We currently expect to ship the first batch of Moves by the end of May 2025.
This is our reasonably assessed timeline. With extensive experience in developing and producing multiple products, we have established a high level of accuracy in time management. Even in the rare case of unexpected delays, they would likely be within one to two months. We have always avoided making empty promises; all videos are shot using fully functional working prototypes, so you can see the high level of product completion for yourself. We plan to ship some trial production units to influencers for testing and reviews in January, providing you with more objective evaluations and insights.
Shipping:
For our U.S. and EU backers, our prices include the shipping fees, which cover customs fees, duties, value-added tax (VAT), and import taxes. We will ship the entire batch to a local warehouse in your region by sea shipping, and from there, it will be delivered to you via courier. This option is more affordable and convenient, though it may take a bit longer.
For other regions, we will ship directly from China using air freight and courier services. Since Move is a large and heavy item and will be shipped worldwide from China, shipping costs may be relatively high. However, we assure you that, with our team’s extensive experience operating Chessnut, we have secured the most competitively discounted shipping rates available. Additionally, our team has subsidized part of the shipping cost to help reduce the expense for backers.
However, please note that for other regions, customs duties and VAT need to be paid according to the regulations of your country. These fees may be collected by the courier on your behalf or directly requested by customs. Payment is required before the delivery can proceed.
*For some faraway countries and regions, such as outlying islands, etc. you may receive us contacting you for needing to pay some extra shipping rates. Please rest assured, we will not charge the remote area fee arbitrarily. We will only request it if the courier notifies us that it is required, and we will provide the relevant invoice from the courier as proof.
*For users in the U.S. and EU, we do not recommend choosing direct shipping via courier from China, as this may result in higher shipping costs and additional customs fees and taxes. However, if you are eager to shorten the shipping time and are willing to pay the extra fees, you can contact us via email before shipping, and we will make arrangements for you.
Chessnut Move Interaction Time – Your Questions Answered!
We’ve gathered some of the most frequently asked questions about Chessnut Move and provided detailed answers. If you have any additional questions, feel free to drop them in the comments – we’ll respond!
Q1: What underlying technology does Move rely on for its operation?
We’ve implemented advanced micro-robotics technology to power piece movement on the chessboard. Each piece’s base functions as a miniature robot, equipped with our proprietary Advanced Full Piece Recognition Technology (AFPR) for precise identity and position recognition. Position recognition has been upgraded from previous grid-based detection to precise identification in millimeter units. This innovative design enables efficient simultaneous movement of multiple pieces while ensuring exceptional reliability and stability. The internal structure of these tiny robots has been custom-designed to enhance durability and optimize performance on the chessboard. Additionally, our carefully crafted path-planning algorithm manages the movement and scheduling of each piece seamlessly.
Q2: What about the piece base? They are not very aesthetically pleasing.
Due to natural color variations in wood, we use metallic spray paint in this color for the wooden piece sets, which helps to better integrate with both wood-colored and ebonized pieces. For the plastic piece sets, we use an integrated design, providing a stronger sense of unity and allowing users to choose according to their preferences. The wheels are visible from the bottom, but we’ve designed them to blend seamlessly with the player’s experience. The feel of manually moving the pieces is almost identical to that of regular chess pieces. From the side, the wheels are mostly hidden and only protrude about 1mm from the bottom.
Q3: Does it support FEN/PGN setups?
Yes, Move supports FEN for setting up positions. You can quickly and accurately restore saved board states and reproduce previous positions. Additionally, you can import PGN for board playback and analysis.
Q4: Does it support voice commands?
Yes, Chessnut Move is equipped with a built-in processor and internal engine, allowing basic voice commands and offline bot games. For more advanced commands, connecting it to the Chessnut app will unlock its full potential.
Q5: Why do the pieces sometimes experience collisions and delays in your demo videos?
We’ve designed a path-planning algorithm for Chessnut Move to handle piece scheduling. While it may appear clumsy at times, this is often the calculated optimal solution. We will continue refining the algorithm to improve efficiency. Minor issues may occur occasionally, but with continued development, they will become much less frequent in the final version.
Q6: Does it support games with shorter time controls? Usually, robotic chess boards are quite slow in their movements.
Move features 10Hz high-frequency positioning, 0.1-second fast command response, and efficient simultaneous movement of multiple pieces, ensuring smooth gameplay along with system stability and reliability. This allows Move to achieve an average move time of around 3 seconds, minimizing time loss typically associated with electronic chessboards and enabling gameplay even in short time control games.
Q7: How many pieces can move simultaneously?
Theoretically, all pieces can move at once. However, depending on the complexity of the position, the algorithm may schedule some movements in batches to ensure optimal performance.
Q8: Is the product shown in the demo video the final version? Will there be any further adjustments?
Move shown in the demo video is a working prototype. The chess piece robots currently displayed are made using 3D printing, so there may be some issues, such as uneven movement paths or recognition errors. In January, we plan to produce a few dozen test samples using trial molds to send to YouTube influencers for reviews and feedback. Based on this feedback, we will make minor improvements for the final mass-production version. Overall, the technical approach is already finalized. there won’t be significant changes, and the final performance will only improve compared to the current prototype.
