A robot developed by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation just set a new world record by solving a Rubik’s Cube in the shortest time possible: he achieved it in just 0.305 thousandths of a secondsurpassing the previous record of 0.38 seconds that had also been achieved by a robot developed by Mitsubishi.
It’s a real blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, as you can see in the video of the robot in action. Fortunately, the video also includes several repetitions slowed down of the achievement, so you can see what’s happening.
The new record holder is the TOKUI Fast and Accurate Synchronized Motion Test Robot, or TOKUFASTbot for short, which is named in part after the lead engineer responsible for its development. Normally, his job is to help build engines, he reports. ScienceAlert.
The robot in full action (Video capture).
“To demonstrate our technical capabilities in achieving high-speed, high-precision windings, which are key to increasing the productivity and efficiency of the motors used in many of our products, our young engineers worked voluntarily to set the world record,” says Yuji Yoshimura, senior general manager of Mitsubishi Electric.
The TOKUFASTbot machine comes with some very useful features for tackling a record like this, including a color recognition algorithm (built with proprietary AI) and a rotation mechanism that rotates 90 degrees in just 0.009 seconds.
Robots getting faster
Robots are getting better and better at solving these types of puzzles. In 2009 the record was 1 minute and 4 seconds. Just seven years later, time fell below the minute for the first time. Progress to just 0.305 seconds has been rapid, says Science Alert.
However, adapting TOKUFASTbot to solve a Rubik’s Cube wasn’t easy: For starters, the robot was too fast for the plastic toy and kept getting the puzzle block stuck. Several adjustments and improvements were required to achieve the record.
If you’re wondering how humans get along with the iconic cube these days, the current record for solving a Rubik’s Cube by a real person currently stands at 3.13 seconds.
However, don’t feel too bad if your own solving skills aren’t as nimble and fast. Erno Rubik, the man who invented the cube he named after him in 1974, it took a whole month in solving it the first time, says Science Alert.
The robot took 30 thousandths of a second to complete it (Video capture).
In the cube more than 43 million billion configurations. There are many wrong paths that can be taken on the way to a single solution.
As for the engineers Mitsubishi Electrichave returned to their regular jobs after setting the new record, but don’t be surprised if they return to try to break the record again in the next few years.
“We will continue to take on exciting challenges using the technology we have cultivated in engine development to support global manufacturing,” Yoshimura says.
