Solve a Rubik’s Cube with just one EV3 set

David Gilday has published detailed building and programming instructions for a Rubik’s Cube solving robot that you can create with a single LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 set. You can find the instructions for MindCub3r (here).

You’ll have to go through quite a few steps to make it work, but it’s probably still a lot easier than solving the cube on your own! BManCan1 has already followed these steps and he created this video:

106 Responses
      1. Dani

        if Batista can win in a Triple Threat match against Orton and Langston, he’ll get his chnace. From there, Langston pulls the stunning upset against Orton and Batista thwarting Batista’s chnace at a WHC title shot. It can definitely work, it just has to have an appropriate set up. The young lions of WWE deserve a proper passing of the torch.

    1. Ben Tristem

      I’m asking if firmware upgrade is REALLY necessary. In a quick experiment I can distinguish Red and Orange by switching to Reflected Light mode when red is detected. If this is the only issue it MAY be possible to go with stock firmware, awaiting Dave’s reply.

      AMAZING job Dave!

  1. fredrikvegar

    hey, I like the robot and I got the building instructions, but I don’t know what kind of program it uses, have you posted it(Mindcub3 program)?
    If not, can you please tell me how to program it.

    Best regards, fredrikvegar.

      1. Janus

        Dear Laurens

        I can’t find the program in the page you said. Please kindly let me know or send me one. Is it in EV3 or NXT?

        Thanks

        Janus

  2. fredrikvegar

    do you know how to program the EV3 expansion set Remote control, and do you have the EV3 gyro boy program or another balance program?
    best regards, fredrikvegar.

  3. Czarek

    I find it easier to lay the ankle than invent and program of such work.
    Sorry for my english (google translator)

    PS: It is a pity that in addition to the book, The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Discovery Book “which I have no other is translated into Polish.
    Maybe something will be clear from this comment in English;)

  4. Sanjay

    Hi Laurens,

    I am very keen on this robot.I have already build it but it has some errors. For Example The arm which rotates the cube does not work…..so could you please make a more detailed and clearer version of it?thanks

  5. Sanjay

    Hi again Laurens,

    I’m sorry to trouble you but on my ev3 it keeps on showing ‘RESET TILT’.Can you please tell me what to do?

    1. I didn’t design this robot, and I didn’t try this robot, so unfortunately I can’t help you – sorry. Try asking David on the Mindcuber Facebook page 🙂

      1. Saidina

        Thanks Guys. MP, I didn’t encounter any real mgrneadisis from the sensor that I remember, but there is the issue of ambient light, which I mention in the instructions.Claudio, nice scanner vehicle! I suggested trying something like that in my “Challenges” section, and that looks like a fun way to do it.

  6. Wee Huat

    Hey people of those that have already built the rubrics cube solver and working fine, I need help regarding it. My rubrics cube solver cannot seem to scan the cube properly and sometimes, the hand and the scanner clashes into each other. I checked multiple times, comparing it and it poses no fault. After doing the files transfer and all those stuff needed, I tried to load MindCub3r programme but it kept telling me reset scan…? Please help, appreciated!

  7. joseph bielinski

    I have found that after you download the mindcuber program you have to run the program with the usb still pluged into the ev3 brick and then it will work not pluged in also you will need a fresh set of AA battires

  8. GianciEV3

    Dear Laurens Valk i love your buildings, their so great!
    But i have a question; How can i program the PIR Sensor from HI Technic and the Gyro Sensor from Lego Education professionally?
    Im only 12 and i did`nt understand Mindstorms very good.
    Can you help me?
    Thanks,
    Gian Carlo

  9. v1n2

    Great project.. i after building the robot yesterday evening, it took me about half an hour to flash the FW, import the sensor and transfer the programs.. the Robot solved my cube without any issue…
    Now i will order the Gyro and try a segway.. 🙂

    1. Paul Imes

      I’m not sure but I am having the same problem and cannot figure our how to make it run the program. I downloaded the auto-run rtf and mc3solver-v1p1.rtf files onto the brick and it still cannot find the solver.

  10. GianciEV3

    Hi Laurens

    I wanted to download the gyroscope and ultrasonic sensor for lab view, but it doesn`t
    work. It says every time that it can`t open it and now i can`t open it. Can you help me please?

  11. Dunkthedood

    Hi when I run the program, all it does it fixes the motors then the screen is stuck on “Find solver”. What?? please help!

  12. mitchel harris

    hi,i am having a issue with the mindcub3r when i use the program. on the screen when i start the program, it says “find solver” and the motor to turn the rubiks cube will spin continuously. when i held it still, it then stood still and asked to insert the cube. after i did, it worked exept the colour sensor and arm would collide. how do i fix the program itself?

    thanks,
    Mitchel

  13. vijaya kumar

    dear sir, my mindcuber is not working and on the screen it is showing that it cannot be downloaded so, please reply me fast

    thanking you
    vijaya kumar

  14. Emil

    when I will download the program to my ev3 says
    Unable to compile some documents for deployment:
    ScanCube.ev3p: Use of a block which no longer exists.
    ScanPiece.ev3p: Use of a block which no longer exists.
    ScanFace.ev3p: Use of a block which no longer exists.
    ScanMiddle.ev3p: Use of a block which no longer exists.
    ScanEdge.ev3p: Use of a block which no longer exists.
    ScanCorner.ev3p: Use of a block which no longer exists.
    ScanRGB.ev3p: Use of a block which no longer exists.
    ScanAndSolve.ev3p: Use of a block which no longer exists.
    MindCub3r.ev3p: Use of a block which no longer exists.

  15. Jin

    The cube keeps getting stuck before if finishes solving the cube. Does anyone have any suggestions? It’s not always aligned after a rotation and sometimes it gets stuck. I tried the alignment techniques like using the side buttons to make sure there’s the same amount of play in both directions. I tried making the tray smaller but nothing worked. It aligns most of the time but it never finishes with an aligned cube and so it strips the gears. I tried newer batteries also. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    Thanks.

  16. Dave W

    I built the mindcuber. The program starts, but always goes to the “Find Solver” message. The operation instructions say the I must have version 1.05M for it to work. I have Lego version 1.06H. I believe that is a later version and think that it should work. I’m afraid that if I install 1.05, the balancer robot won’t work and I’ll have to keep changing the firmware. Is version 1.05 an absolute requirement or should 1.06 work? By the way, I don’t have a Facebook account don’t want to open one.

  17. mitchel harris

    hi,quick question,does anybody have a edited program where the hand and color sensor will not collide so it will properly read the cube?

    1. Marco Cavalli

      Just check that the clog (dented wheel) that trasmits motion to the sensor arm is mounted on the correct side of the vertical beam. Look vrry carefully at the building instructions.

      If it is not the two arms will collide. It is not a software issue.

  18. Ante Stattin

    I finished building the robot today and downloaded the program to my computer, but when I try to download it to the ev3-brick it just says that the custom blocks do not exist. I have searched in the instructions but I can’t seem to find any tips of what to do if that happens. Can someone please tell me what I should do?

  19. Owen

    I build the robot and installed the program, and I did what it said, and I ran the program. I did what It said again, then I insert the cube, it was scanning I waited like 2 mins, but it was still scanning I thank that part was not supposed to happen. Help me fix this pls. anybody?

  20. Allen

    Hello – I’ve built the robot and verified the cable connections. When I start it, the arms move, but the cube tray just spins. The ev3 module displays “Reset RGB”. Has anyone seen this?

        1. M

          Update: there is discussion of this issue on the fb page linked above. A couple of people have “reset RGB” but different symptoms, so read both carefully. My symptoms were same as Mathias Moronvalle, and like him, removing everything and following the instructions again carefully (restarting both the brick and the EV3 software after deleting) solved the problem. A truly impressive project, thanks to the makers!

  21. TreyR9

    I am having a problem. The robot will scan the cube, and then make the error sound. The screen displays what seems to be a message saying that there is an unexpected ending in the program. I could not find any, and it happens every successful scan. I have run the application before opening the program, but it does not change anything. Please advise!

  22. mocbuild101

    I want to build this but I can’t import the ColorSensorRGB-v1.00 block, the program says “import completed with errors” Can you help ?
    I have tried the solutions here but it still won’t work!

    Thanks

    1. mocbuild101

      FIXED!!!

      I found out that Lego has just updated the EV3 software so I installed the new software and it worked!!!!!!

  23. TroniX

    Please help me! I uploadet the “ColorBrick” and then i restartet the EV3 Programm and i will upload on the file the “mc3Solver” but it says: Brick-Error! Cant upload the Brick! Please help me ! TroniX

    1. mocbuild101

      I had the same problem (see above) but just fixed it today (yay!) I found out that Lego has just updated the EV3 software. so I installed the new software and it worked!

      also try and update the firmware on the EV3 brick.

      P.S. I hope that I answered your question correctly. (spelling not very good).

  24. Junbo Yu

    Hello can you please help me? When I start the program it just keeps doing the reset scan thing and doesn’t go to any other steps. I downloaded the rtf and rbf file into the robot so it should work.

  25. Arnold

    I had an issue with excessive SCAN ERRORS. The issue was the cable that connected to color sensor. After replacing cable twice and color sensor twice with no solution I used connector cleaner DeoxIT and now it solves cube first time every time.

  26. Joe

    Great, but my robot will reset scan and tilt arm but will get stuck on “find solver”. My cables are all connected properly and I cannot find any problems. What can I do?

    1. UltimateDud5572

      did you run the ‘mc3 solver v2p2’ program before running mindcub3r?
      cause if u dont then it wont start working, it will just get stuck where you guys did

  27. Luke

    We built it and successfully installed the program. But every time it keeps running into scanning errors.

    What do we need to do to fix that

    1. Master W

      Reset tilt issue – for me, the motor cable connection underneath the tilt arm was disconnected, reconnected it and it worked.

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