Student Breaks World Record With Robot That Solves 4x4 Rubik’s Cube | Festina Lente - Your leading source of AI news | Turtles AI

A young British student has designed a robot that can solve the 4x4 Rubik’s Cube in less than 46 seconds, breaking the previous world record for machines. The device, called "Revenger," was developed in 15 weeks as a graduate project in computer science. The 4x4 cube, also known as "Rubik’s Revenge," is more complex than the classic 3x3 cube, with over 7.4×10^45 possible combinations. The human record for solving the 4x4 cube currently stands at 16.79 seconds, set by Max Park in 2022.

Key Points:

• "Revenger" has set a new world record for robots in solving the 4x4 Rubik’s Cube, completing the puzzle in 45.305 seconds.
• The robot uses two webcams to analyze the cube and a custom algorithm to determine the optimal sequence of moves.
• The 4x4 Rubik’s Cube, invented in 1981 by Péter Sebestény, is significantly more complex than the 3x3 model, with over 7.4×10^45 possible configurations.
• The human record for solving the 4x4 cube is 16.79 seconds, set by Max Park in 2022.

Matthew Pidden, a 22-year-old student at the University of Bristol, has created a robot called "Revenger" that can solve the 4x4 Rubik’s Cube in 45.305 seconds, beating the previous world record for machines, which was 1 minute and 18 seconds. The project, developed over 15 weeks as part of his computer science thesis, combines advanced hardware and software: two webcams for visual analysis of the cube, a custom mechatronic mechanism for manipulating the faces, and a solving algorithm entirely developed by Pidden.

The 4x4 Rubik’s Cube, also known as "Rubik’s Revenge," was invented in 1981 by Hungarian engineer Péter Sebestény. Unlike the 3x3 cube, the 4x4 has no fixed centers, which increases the complexity of the puzzle. With 24 centers, 24 edges, and 8 corners, the cube has over 7.4×10^45 possible configurations, making it a significant challenge even for experienced solvers.

The current human world record for solving the 4x4 cube is 16.79 seconds, set by Max Park in 2022. Although "Revenger" has not yet achieved these times, its success represents a significant step in the integration of robotics and complex puzzle solving.

Following the success of the project, Pidden has expressed his intention to continue his studies with a master’s degree in robotics at Imperial College London, with the aim of furthering his studies in AI and mechatronics applications.

The 4x4 Rubik’s Cube continues to be a testbed for advanced engineering and programming, spurring innovation and creativity in the field of robotics.