Matthew Pidden, a 22-year-old computer science student, came up with the robot to solve the four-by-four Rubik’s cube, or “Rubik’s Revenge.” That remarkable accomplishment had the robot doing it in only 45.305 seconds, making Matthew front-page news for his ingenuity. This remarkable accomplishment broke their own previous world record of 1 minute and 18 seconds. It blew past that mark by a remarkable 33 seconds!
Hungarian architect Péter Sebestény designed the four-by-four version of Rubik’s cube in 1981. Its increased complexity means it’s a tougher test than the original three-by-three format. Pidden’s robot, fittingly called “Revenger,” represented the end result of 15 weeks of hard work and creative thinking. He constructed and programmed Revenger as his capstone project on the way to his bachelor’s degree.
Revenger takes advantage of two webcams to scan the cube, accurately following and responding to changes in the position and orientation of each face. This impressive technologic marvel includes a custom-built mechanism that is specifically designed for the precision needed to rotate the cube’s sections. Pidden implemented an entirely self-made solving algorithm that allows Revenger to find optimal solutions to the puzzle efficiently.
I loved playing with Rubik’s cubes as a child. In an interview with BBC Points West, Pidden shared his excitement about the completed work. “I just wanted to do something that really inspired me,” he said. In no small part, his passion for puzzles was what fueled his desire to build a robot that could pull off such a monumental accomplishment.
I thought Revenger’s world record was astounding. Further, let us not forget that the human record for fully solving the four-by-four cube is an impressive 15.71 seconds. While Pidden’s robotic achievement is remarkable, it highlights the ongoing human fascination with the complexities of the Rubik’s cube.
Pidden’s success is a product of his exceptional technical talents. His long standing love for solving problems has driven this enthusiasm since he was a kid. With graduation on the horizon, his imaginative work is a true standout. It’s a testament to what can be achieved when heart and technical skill come together.