Lego Mindstorms Ev3 Rubik 39;s Cube Solver Program Download

xuwici
Aug 2, 2023
11 min read

How to Build and Program a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube Solver

Have you ever wondered how to solve a Rubik's Cube? Have you ever wanted to build your own robot that can do it for you? If you have a Lego Mindstorms EV3 set, you can make your own Rubik's Cube solver using some simple software and instructions. In this article, I will show you how to build and program a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver using the MindCub3r software developed by David Gilday. You will learn what Lego Mindstorms EV3 is, what a Rubik's Cube solver is, why you should build and program one, what you need to get started, how to follow the building and programming instructions, and what benefits and challenges you can expect from this project.

lego mindstorms ev3 rubik 39;s cube solver program download

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Introduction

What is Lego Mindstorms EV3?

Lego Mindstorms EV3 is a robotics kit that allows you to create and program your own robots using Lego bricks, motors, sensors, and a programmable brick called the EV3 brick. You can use the Lego Mindstorms EV3 software or other programming languages such as Python or C++ to write your own programs for your robots. You can also use the Lego Mindstorms app on your smartphone or tablet to control your robots wirelessly. Lego Mindstorms EV3 is suitable for beginners and experts alike, as it offers endless possibilities for creativity and learning.

What is a Rubik's Cube Solver?

A Rubik's Cube solver is a device that can solve the well-known Rubik's Cube puzzle automatically. A Rubik's Cube is a 3D puzzle that consists of 26 smaller cubes arranged in a 3x3x3 grid. Each face of the cube has one of six colors: white, yellow, red, green, blue, or orange. The goal of the puzzle is to rotate the smaller cubes until each face of the cube has only one color. A Rubik's Cube solver uses sensors to scan the colors of the cube, an algorithm to find the optimal solution, and motors to manipulate the cube until it is solved.

Why Build and Program a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube Solver?

Building and programming a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver is a fun and rewarding project that can help you develop your skills in robotics, programming, engineering, and problem-solving. You will learn how to use different sensors, motors, and blocks to create a complex and functional robot. You will also learn how to use an efficient algorithm to solve a challenging puzzle. You will be able to impress your friends and family with your robot's ability to solve the Rubik's Cube in seconds. You will also be able to customize your robot and experiment with different settings and features.

Requirements

Lego Mindstorms EV3 Home or Education Set

To build and program a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver, you will need either the Lego Mindstorms EV3 Home set (item 31313) or the Lego Mindstorms EV3 Education Core and Expansion sets (items 45544 and 455 60). You can buy these sets online or from your local Lego store. You will also need a computer with the Lego Mindstorms EV3 software installed, or a smartphone or tablet with the Lego Mindstorms app downloaded. You will also need four AA batteries for your EV3 brick.

MindCub3r Software and Instructions

To program your Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver, you will need the MindCub3r software developed by David Gilday. This software includes the executable program that runs on your EV3 brick, as well as the project file that contains the source code and the building instructions. You can download the MindCub3r software for free from . You will also find detailed instructions on how to install and use the software on the same website.

A Standard 3x3 Rubik's Cube

Of course, you will also need a standard 3x3 Rubik's Cube to test your robot. You can use any brand or model of Rubik's Cube, as long as it has the standard size and colors. The MindCub3r software is designed to work with Rubik's Cubes that have white, yellow, red, green, blue, and orange faces. If your cube has different colors, you will need to modify the color sensor RGB block in the MindCub3r program to match your cube's colors.

Building Instructions

Download and Install the Color Sensor RGB Block

The first step to build your Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver is to download and install the color sensor RGB block. This is a custom block that allows you to read the RGB values of the colors detected by the EV3 color sensor. You will need this block to scan the colors of your Rubik's Cube accurately. To download and install the color sensor RGB block, follow these steps:

Go to and download the file called "ColorSensorRGB.ev3b".

Open the Lego Mindstorms EV3 software on your computer and go to "Tools" > "Block Import" > "Import".

Select the file "ColorSensorRGB.ev3b" and click "Open".

You should see a message saying "Block imported successfully". Click "OK".

You should now see the color sensor RGB block in your programming palette under "My Blocks".

Download and Install the MindCub3r Project File and Executable Program

The next step is to download and install the MindCub3r project file and executable program. The project file contains the source code and the building instructions for your robot. The executable program is a ready-made program that you can run on your EV3 brick without any modifications. To download and install the MindCub3r project file and executable program, follow these steps:

Go to and download the file called "MindCub3r-v2p2.ev3".

Open the Lego Mindstorms EV3 software on your computer and go to "File" > "Open Project".

Select the file "MindCub3r-v2p2.ev3" and click "Open".

You should see a project called "MindCub3r" in your project browser. Click on it to open it.

You should see two programs in your project: "MindCub3r-v2p2" and "MindCub3r-v2p2-compiled". The first one is the source code that you can edit if you want. The second one is the executable program that you can run on your EV3 brick without any changes.

To install the executable program on your EV3 brick, connect your EV3 brick to your computer using a USB cable or Bluetooth.

Go to "Tools" > "Brick" > "Download Project" > "Download Selected Files".

Select the file "MindCub3r-v2p2-compiled" and click "Download".

You should see a message saying "Download complete". Click "OK".

You should now see the program "MindCub3r-v2p2-compiled" on your EV3 brick's screen.

Follow the Building Instructions for Your Set

The final step to build your Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver is to follow the building instructions for your set. The building instructions are included in the MindCub3r project file that you downloaded earlier. You can access them by clicking on the "Building Instructions" tab in the Lego Mindstorms EV3 software. You will see two versions of the building instructions: one for the Home set and one for the Education set. Choose the one that matches your set and follow the steps carefully. You will need to use some parts from both the Core and Expansion sets if you have the Education set. You will also need to attach the color sensor to the EV3 brick using a USB cable. The building instructions will show you how to do this.

Programming Instructions

Connect Your EV3 Brick to Your Computer

Before you can run the MindCub3r program on your EV3 brick, you need to connect your EV3 brick to your computer using a USB cable or Bluetooth. If you have already done this when you downloaded the executable program, you can skip this step. Otherwise, follow these steps:

Turn on your EV3 brick and make sure it has enough battery power.

Connect your EV3 brick to your computer using a USB cable or Bluetooth. If you use Bluetooth, you will need to pair your devices first.

Open the Lego Mindstorms EV3 software on your computer and go to "Tools" > "Brick" > "Connect".

You should see a message saying "Connected". Click "OK".

You should now see your EV3 brick's name and status in the bottom right corner of the software.

Run the MindCub3r Program on Your EV3 Brick

Now that you have built and programmed your Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver, you are ready to run the MindCub3r program on your EV3 brick and see it in action. To run the MindCub3r program on your EV3 brick, follow these steps:

Make sure your EV3 brick is connected to your computer and turned on.

Select the program "MindCub3r-v2p2-compiled" on your EV3 brick's screen using the buttons.

Press the center button to start the program.

You should hear a beep and see a message saying "MindCub3r ready".

Place your Rubik's Cube on a flat surface with the white face up and the green face facing you.

Pick up your robot and place it over the cube so that the color sensor is aligned with the center of the cube.

Press the center button again to start scanning the cube.

You should see a message saying "Scanning cube" and hear some sounds as the robot scans each face of the cube.

When the scanning is done, you should see a message saying "Solving cube" and hear some sounds as the robot calculates the solution.

When the solution is found, you should see a message saying "Executing solution" and hear some sounds as the robot manipulates the cube until it is solved.

When the cube is solved, you should hear a beep and see a message saying "Cube solved".

Congratulations! You have successfully built and programmed a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver!

Adjust the Scan Speed and Scan Position If Needed

Sometimes, you may need to adjust the scan speed and scan position of your robot to make it work better with your Rubik's Cube. The scan speed is how fast the robot moves the cube while scanning it. The scan position is how far the robot moves the cube away from the color sensor while scanning it. To adjust the scan speed and scan position, follow these steps:

Make sure your EV3 brick is connected to your computer and turned on.

Open the Lego Mindstorms EV3 software on your computer and go to "File" > "Open Project".

Select the file "MindCub3r-v2p2.ev3" and click "Open".

You should see a project called "MindCub3r" in your project browser. Click on it to open it.

You should see two programs in your project: "MindCub3r-v2p2" and "MindCub3r-v2p2-compiled". The first one is the source code that you can edit if you want. The second one is the executable program that you can run on your EV3 brick without any changes.

Click on the program "MindCub3r-v2p2" to open it.

You should see a graphical representation of the program with different blocks and wires.

Look for the block called "Scan Speed" near the top of the program. This block controls how fast the robot moves the cube while scanning it. You can change the value of this block by clicking on it and typing a new number. The default value is 50, which means 50% of the maximum speed. You can increase or decrease this value as you wish, but be careful not to make it too fast or too slow.

Look for the block called "Scan Position" near the bottom of the program. This block controls how far the robot moves the cube away from the color sensor while scanning it. You can change the value of this block by clicking on it and typing a new number. The default value is 0, which means no offset. You can increase or decrease this value as you wish, but be careful not to make it too large or too small.

When you are happy with your adjustments, save your changes by going to "File" > "Save Project".

To install the modified program on your EV3 brick, connect your EV3 brick to your computer using a USB cable or Bluetooth.

Go to "Tools" > "Brick" > "Download Project" > "Download Selected Files".

Select the file "MindCub3r-v2p2-compiled" and click "Download".

You should see a message saying "Download complete". Click "OK".

You should now see the modified program "MindCub3r-v2p2-compiled" on your EV3 brick's screen.

Conclusion

Summary of the Steps

In this article, I have shown you how to build and program a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver using the MindCub3r software developed by David Gilday. To summarize, here are the main steps you need to follow:

Download and install the color sensor RGB block.

Download and install the MindCub3r project file and executable program.

Follow the building instructions for your set.

Connect your EV3 brick to your computer.

Run the MindCub3r program on your EV3 brick.

Adjust the scan speed and scan position if needed.

Benefits and Challenges of the Project

You will learn how to use different sensors, motors, and blocks to create a complex and functional robot.

You will learn how to use an efficient algorithm to solve a challenging puzzle.

You will be able to impress your friends and family with your robot's ability to solve the Rubik's Cube in seconds.

You will be able to customize your robot and experiment with different settings and features.

Some of the challenges of this project are:

You will need to have either the Lego Mindstorms EV3 Home set or the Education Core and Expansion sets, which are not very cheap or easy to find.

You will need to download and install some custom software and blocks that are not included in the official Lego Mindstorms EV3 software.

You will need to follow the building and programming instructions carefully and accurately, as any mistake or deviation can affect the performance of your robot.

You will need to adjust the scan speed and scan position of your robot depending on your Rubik's Cube and your environment.

Further Resources and Ideas

If you enjoyed this project and want to learn more about Lego Mindstorms EV3, Rubik's Cube solvers, or robotics in general, here are some further resources and ideas that you can explore:

Visit the official Lego Mindstorms website to find more information, tutorials, projects, and community forums about Lego Mindstorms EV3.

Visit the official MindCub3r website to find more information, videos, FAQs, and troubleshooting tips about the MindCub3r software and robot.

Visit the official Rubik's Cube website to find more information, tutorials, games, and competitions about the Rubik's Cube puzzle.

Watch this video to see how David Gilday built and programmed a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver using only one motor.

Watch this video to see how David Gilday and Mike Dobson built and programmed a Lego Mindstorms NXT Rubik's Cube solver that can solve any size of cube.

Watch this video to see how Albert Beer built and programmed a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver that can solve the cube in less than 4 seconds.

Try to modify your robot or program to make it faster, more accurate, or more versatile. For example, you can try to use different sensors, motors, or blocks; change the algorithm or the settings; or add some features or functions.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about building and programming a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver:

How long does it take to build and program a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver?

It depends on your skill level and experience, but it can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The building part can take about 1-2 hours if you follow the instructions carefully. The programming part can take about 10-20 minutes if you use the executable program provided by the MindCub3r software. However, if you want to edit the source code or adjust the scan speed and scan position, it can take longer.

How fast can a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver solve the cube?

It depends on several factors, such as the scan speed, the scan position, the algorithm, the cube condition, and the cube configuration. However, on average, a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver can solve the cube in about 1-2 minutes. The fastest recorded time for a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver is 3.253 seconds by Albert Beer.

How many moves does a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver use to solve the cube?

It depends on the algorithm used by the robot. The MindCub3r software uses an algorithm called Kociemba's algorithm, which is an optimal algorithm that can find the shortest solution for any cube configuration. However, due to some limitations of the robot and the software, the solution found by the robot may not be always optimal. On average, a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver can solve the cube in about 20-25 moves.

Can a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver solve any type of cube?

No, a Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver can only solve standard 3x3 Rubik's Cubes that have white, yellow, red, green, blue, and orange faces. It cannot solve cubes that have different sizes, shapes, colors, or mechanisms. For example, it cannot solve 2x2 cubes, 4x4 cubes, Pyraminxes, Megaminxes, or mirror cubes.

Can I use a different software or programming language to program my Lego Mindstorms EV3 Rubik's Cube solver?

Yes, you can use any software or programming language that is compatible with Lego Mindstorms EV3 to program your robot. However, you will need to write your own code and algorithm from scratch. You will also need to find a way to communicate with the color sensor and the cube. You can find some examples of different software and programming languages for Lego Mindstorms EV3 on .

Thank you for reading this article. I hope you found it helpful and interesting. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Happy building and programming! 44f88ac181