Rubik’s Cube-solving robots are nothing new, but friends Jay Flatland and Paul Rose managed to build one you won’t believe is real. Though the setup may look complex, it’s only comprised of several webcams, 3D-printed frames and Arduino stepper motors. The custom software takes the image input from the cameras and converts it into a ‘unrolled’ that the solver can comprehend. After a few blazing runs, they managed to get the times down to 1.047s and an unreal 1.019s. Continue reading for more.
5. IET LEGO Robot
Rubik’s Cube is a 3-D combination puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Erno Rubik. Originally called the Magic Cube, the puzzle was licensed by Rubik to be sold by Ideal Toy Corp. in 1980.
4. 2.39-Second Robot
As of January 2009, 350 million cubes had been sold worldwide making it the world’s top-selling puzzle game. It is widely considered to be the world’s best-selling toy.
3. CubeStormer II
Although the Rubik’s Cube reached its height of mainstream popularity in the 1980s, it is still widely known and used. Many speedcubers continue to practice it and other twisty puzzles and compete for the fastest times in various categories.
2. 1-Second
Nichols assigned his patent to his employer Moleculon Research Corp., which sued Ideal in 1982. In 1984, Ideal lost the patent infringement suit and appealed. In 1986, the appeals court affirmed the judgment that Rubik’s 2x2x2 Pocket Cube infringed Nichols’s patent, but overturned the judgment on Rubik’s 3x3x3 Cube.
1. CubeStormer III
Although there are a significant number of possible permutations for the Rubik’s Cube, a number of solutions have been developed which allow solving the cube in well under 100 moves.
