Earlier this month, Mitsubishi Electric’s TOKUI Fast Accurate Synchronised Motion Testing Robot (TOKUFASTbot) broke a new Guinness World Record for solving a Rubik’s cube in 0.305 seconds. This achievement beat the previous record by 0.075 seconds.
TOKUFASTbot’s success can be credited to its high-power, signal-responsive servomotors, which can complete each 90-degree rotation in 0.009 seconds, and an AI algorithm that accurately identifies and matches colours despite impediments.
Mitsubishi engineers used motion-control technologies from their manufacturing processes to ensure the exact execution of each twist, which is critical for avoiding misalignment and jams. The robot’s AI was particularly challenged by identifying similar colours, such as red and orange, but it efficiently determined the best sequence of moves to solve the puzzle.
The record attempt in Hyogo, Japan, encountered some initial difficulties, with the first attempt resulting in a jam due to the high speed. However, the second effort was successful, demonstrating the robot’s durability and precision. This new record is a huge improvement over earlier Rubik’s Cube-solving robots, indicating a jump in robotic capabilities.
Mitsubishi Electric’s TOKUFASTbot not only displays incredible engineering and AI developments, but it also establishes a new standard in the world of robotics, pointing to the possibility for high-speed, precision robotic operations in various industries.
