A new record has been set for the world’s fastest robot to solve a Rubik’s cube. A machine created by Germany’s Albert Beer has solved the cube in 0.887, according to the Guinness World Records, breaking the previous record of 0.9 seconds.
Called Sub1, the robot has two webcams which gather information about the arrangement of the cube’s six sides. Then, using Herbert Kociemba’s Two-Phase Algorithm, the robot sorts out how to solve the cube. The robot also uses an Arduino-compatible microcontroller board to execute the moves.
The previous world record was set just weeks ago by a robot created by software developers Paul Rose and Jay Flatland of Kansas City, U.S., who built the robot as a hobby. Their machine uses four USB webcams, six stepper motors with their own drivers, and a 3D printed frame.
"We're amazed by how the record has inspired kids,” said Rose at the time. " I think the response has encouraged us to get more involved in school robotics programs and getting kids interested in science, technology, engineering and math topics."
Robots aside, the current human record is held by 14-year-old Luca Etter from Kentucky. The teen solved a Rubik’s Cube in 4.9 seconds.
