Robot breaks Rubik's Cube record by solving iconic puzzle in just 10 seconds (youtube link)

dailymail.co.uk ^ | 5-31-11

[rawhide]

A robot that can solve the Rubik's Cube in just over ten seconds has been developed by scientists.

The android - called Ruby - first scans the initial status of the scrambled cube before setting to work. She is able to both survey and solve the iconic puzzle in 10.18 seconds.

Developed by six engineering and science students at Swinburne University Of Technology in Melbourne, Ruby was built from scratch as their final year project.

Professor Chris Pilgrim, of Swinburne University, said: 'Ruby works by scanning each face of a scrambled cube through a webcam.

'It then uses a software algorithm to develop a solution which is fed to the high-speed robot through a real-time embedded control system.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWtBTKpWVXk&feature=player_embe dded

[Isabel C.]

I checked into it and the math was cool but just not up my alley

By cool do you mean interesting?

[TChad]

Best puzzle ever. Not easy to solve.

I never broke 60 seconds.

Wonder if I still remember the moves.

[pops88]

When I was in high school in the early 70s, someone on the bus handed me their Rubik’s Cube. I solved it and gave it back. I’m pretty sure it took more than 10.18 sec. though. I’m also outstanding with mazes. Don’t ask me how I do it. I couldn’t tell you. If only the skills would translate into gardening....

[freedumb2003]

>>By cool do you mean interesting?<<

Extremely. I do well with what I call “brute logic.” I am pretty boolean in my approach to developing solutions, but can zig the 3VL hip shift in a pinch.

But the math concepts in robotics/AI and the instantiation of fuzzy sets and mathematical “almosting” — and understanding the theoretical basis from which they are built — are intellectually satisfying but take a mind-set of which I do not possess.

In this case I am just the kid on the outside of the window — fogging the glass and imagining I could be Willy Wonka’s protogee.

But I get by in my space and I have created some pretty nifty stuff in my years in delivering ERPs. And nifty ain’t bad :) I even had a governor of a state compliment my work so that was sort of nifty+.

:)

[freedumb2003]

>>So what does the robot do with all the time it’s saved?<<

I think the Robot Revolution planning...

[bunkerhill7]

Robot breaks open Obummer`s forged birth certificate by solving iconic puzzle of pdf layers in just 10 seconds (youtube link)

Professor Chris Pillgrin, of Sweinhunt University, said: ‘Buby works by scanning each face of a scrambled Bum through a webcam.

‘It then uses a software algorithm to develop a solution which is fed to the high-speed robot through a real-time embedded control system which is connected to a teleprompter in Kenya.’

[Explorer89]

I think it is awesome. No, it doesn’t have actual real-world value, but these are students. They will graduate, and be able to apply the knowledge of translating an algorithm into a real-time system. There were some cool controls going on. They had to have working knowledge of the algorithm itself, the webcam, the pattern recognition of the colors from the webcam to feed into the algorithm, the control of the robot arms to move the cube, plus more that I can’t think of this early. Clearly I am easily entertained.

[Cronos]

In my early teens, I smashed one against the wall and put it back together in the proper order.

The goal was to have each side one solid color. I met the objective.

I'm not one to boast but I once took up a Rubik's cube and when I put it down 9 seconds later, it was completely solved....

Of course it was solved when I picked it up.....

\(^c^)/