What are some physical chess simulators? My father likes to play chess but doesn't have any friends who would play with him. I suggested him playing it on tablet device but he doesn't like the touchscreen interface. He needs to touch the pieces. 

Has anyone built a physical chess simulator (electricity powered, AI included) that will move the pieces on its own? I didn't find on googling.

EDIT. on further thinking I think it's hard to have such technology without using robots (one cannot just slide all the pieces - like Knights). May be if the board blinks lights below the piece it wants to move (with green light) and target location with another light (say red), then we can move opponents piece on the physical board.

Edit 2 Found this!: [Novag Obsidian] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sAvribpPvA that kinda solves the problem. If you know better alternatives please post in answers.
Do you mean?


  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS5EPbsmCXs




I don't know how you'd get his robot, but it won't be affordable.

Have you seen this page?


  https://chessprogramming.wikispaces.com/Robots