Will this work... Camera calibration without human intervention
Instead of having a physical checkerboard. If I was to create a small clear plastic grill with a bunch of holes filled with black plastic, stick a really bright LED behind to cast shadows/circles on a wall, can these sharp cast shadows be used as the calibration pattern?
Unless you have someone that did exactly the same, trial and error is the way to go. However if your borders arent to much blurred, then yes, this would probably work :)
As far as your camera is able to detect chessboard pattern like image and the corners, it must be fine.
Actually you could calibrate with any pattern you choose, however, chessboard approach is done quite often because of it universal layout and the repeatebility of the calibration.