Believe it or not: All this robot needs to solve a Rubik’s cube is 45.3 seconds

If solving a puzzle cube already feels like a challenge, this robot might bruise a few egos. British brothers Matthew Pidden and Thomas Pidden built a machine that solved a 4×4×4 Rubik’s cube in just 45.3 seconds, earning a title from Guinness World Records. The duo first showcased the creation at University of Bristol in May 2025. What began as an undergraduate project quickly turned into a record-breaking demonstration of robotics and programming.

A robot with serious puzzle skills
Matthew said the idea came from his university project — neatly merging two lifelong interests: computer science and puzzle cubes. “I have always enjoyed Rubik’s Cubes as a child and computer science. Combining the two felt like a natural progression,” he told Guinness World Records. The robot uses four mechanical arms to twist the cube while two cameras scan it. To keep things fair & not give more of an advantage to the device, sliding plastic shutters blocked the cameras until each attempt began.

Third try good, sixth try better
The robot first broke the record in 53 seconds on its third attempt. But the brothers suspected it could go faster. A few tries later, on the sixth attempt, the machine clocked its best time yet — 45.3 seconds, leaving most human cube solvers feeling politely outperformed.

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