The maker conceived this project intending to create a Rubik's Cube solver that requires very few motors. A primary goal was designing a mechanism that functions without ever reorienting the entire cube. This ambitious goal led the maker to develop a unique solution, resulting in the Twistopher 2.0.
The machine utilizes a custom-designed, 3D-printed mechanism. Its structure includes black frames, along with yellow gears and metal guide shafts. The maker decided to use two motors, one stepper and one servo, after initially struggling with a one-motor design. This complex assembly is paired with an overhead digital camera module for visual processing.
When the cube is placed in the central cradle, the machine turns it beneath the camera. The system is able to detect 48 out of 54 squares, excluding the central pieces. The calculation phase takes 02:73, followed by the physical twisting of the faces until the cube is fully solved. The process is lengthy, requiring a total of 28:73.
While the robot successfully solves the cube, the maker has not detailed the exact wiring or electrical setup beyond listing the components. It is interesting to consider how the system achieves such precise color detection on the faces despite the limited number of observed squares. This build represents a clever approach to a difficult mechanical challenge.