Photo: guinnessworldrecords/Instagram
A robot in the United Kingdom has set a new world record by solving a 4×4 Rubik's Cube in 45.3 seconds, breaking a record that stood for over ten years.
The record-breaking robot was developed by British brothers Matthew Podden and Thomas Podden. It features a central frame that holds the cube in place and four mechanical arms that rotate the layers with precision. The system first scans the cube to determine its configuration and then uses algorithms to calculate the fastest sequence of moves, which the robot executes in rapid succession.
The previous record, set in 2014, was 1 minute 18.68 seconds. Matthew Podden handled the software and control system, designing algorithms to analyze the cube and determine the correct moves. Thomas Podden worked on the mechanical components, many of which were 3D-printed.
The brothers described the project as both a diploma project and a lifelong passion combining Rubik’s cubes and computer science. After several trial runs, their sixth attempt achieved the record time of 45.3 seconds. They see their achievement as a showcase of modern robotics and a way to inspire future engineers and programmers.
Last month, England’s QEQM hospital also successfully implemented the Hugo robotic system for minimally invasive bowel cancer surgeries, demonstrating the growing precision and impact of robotics in multiple fields.
