Apart from fancy dance moves and uncanny wit, the ability to solve a Rubik’s Cube has established how eclectically cool a person is for… at least the past 40 years. But what if you knew your cube so well, you could make it solve ITSELF. Japanese designer Takashi Kaburagi of Human Controller has spent the last few years creating a Rubik’s Cube which can do just that.
His first design in 2017 was made by placing a relatively large computer and a handful of motors inside a large Rubik’s Cube (you can tell how big it is by how a Cube face takes up the entire size of one of his hands). Once the Cube was scrambled, rotating the top face 360° would activate the computer and make it solve itself.
Fast-forward a year later and he has significantly improved the design. The 2018 version of the self-solving Rubik’s Cube is now the same size as a regular Cube and features a custom 3D-printed spherical computer which fits snuggly inside.
The internals alone are a treat to look upon, yes? This new cube features a microcontroller board and uses magnetized wire to connect the sensors to the onboard computer. When scrambled and left for a set period of time, the electronics activate the six motors which solve the Rubik’s Cube automatically.
Takashi’s 2019 update doesn’t make quite the same leap as the 2018 design did from the 2017 version. It still retains the same size, computer, and self-solving technology, only this time the Rubik’s Cube floats.
You read that right: in an age where we still lack floating cars, at least we have a floating Rubik’s Cube. Using, what I can only assume are a ton of magnets, CGI, or black magic, Takashi has managed to scramble a Rubik’s Cube and get it to solve itself in mid-air.
He’s constantly improving on it, but you can definitely tell Takashi Kaburagi is becoming a savant when it comes to Rubik’s Cube designs. You can find more of his work on his YouTube channel, Human Controller.
