I took this approach in 2013 for a robotics competition ... this time using the Raspberry Pi as the brain. USB isn’t the only option, though. A quick search found boards at Adafruit, Robotshop ...

The board as well as the chess pieces can be 3D printed, while the Raspberry Pi handles the software aspect with the Stockfish engine, Adafruit packages ... Arduinos and DIY robots go hand ...

As for UARTs, the Raspberry Pi’s one-and-a-half UART interface has long been an issue in robotics and home automation applications. With a slew of devices like radio receivers/transmitters ...

That's exactly what maker and developer Abe from Abe's Projects has done with this Raspberry Pi Pico-powered digital ... Tinkercad and resembles a little robot wearing a tuxedo.