6 ms·

This is incredibly impressive, but I wonder- how does a project like this get proposed and funded? Why would Mitsubishi devote resources to solving a Rubik’s Cu

This is incredibly impressive, but I wonder- how does a project like this get proposed and funded? Why would Mitsubishi devote resources to solving a Rubik’s Cube as quickly as possible?

elevaet 2y ago
It might be a promotional flex. Here we are talking about Mitsubishi.
pengaru 2y ago
for all we know this is one of their test cases
- reverius42 2y ago
  Nice that some places still hire testers.
vlovich123 2y ago
It’s a visceral demo that execs and customers can interact with to demonstrate Mitsubishi’s expertise in robotics. It’s both for PR purposes (improving the value of the brand) + sales (come talk to us for your robot needs) + defending the R&D departments budget (hey exec, isn’t this thing we built really cool? We’re actually accomplishing progress on long term goals, not just collecting a paycheck and doing nothing).
ThrowawayTestr 2y ago
It's a demonstration of extremely fast and precise motors.
mitthrowaway2 2y ago
Projects like these attract attention at trade shows. Probably for their servomotors and controls division, because their customers will be interested in doing similar high-speed manipulation for more practical applications, and showing off that you can do this using these products gives a good feel for other things that you might also be able to do with them.
- krm01 2y ago
  So it’s basically a marketing project? Are you aware of some articles I can read about these types of projects and their economics as well as ROI?
- SmallDeadGuy 2y ago
  Exactly this. My dad still demonstrates his CubeStormer and other Lego robots on behalf of Arm at trade shows, because both the Lego robot control unit and the phones used for camera/solver are Arm-powered. And CubeStormer 3 set the previous record over 10 years ago at this point. CubeStormer was a hobby project though, so not the same as this robot which looks like it entirely uses company resources.
TylerE 2y ago
So they can sell giant expensive industrial robotics.
anigbrowl 2y ago
- How can we market our world-class precision manufacturing skills more effectively - What if we make a robot that solves Rubik's cube at insane speeds - Sounds cool, see you in 3 months
jaydeegee 2y ago
2 things it's a marketing exercise but it's also R&D an actual test use case for high speed precision motors/controllers. I can imagine this video is almost nsfw for folk building industrial machines.
- brazzy 2y ago
  I know what you mean, but... Not safe for work - because it's their job?

This is incredibly impressive, but I wonder- how does a project like this get proposed and funded? Why would Mitsubishi devote resources to solving a Rubik’s Cube as quickly as possible?

elevaet 2y ago

It might be a promotional flex. Here we are talking about Mitsubishi.

pengaru 2y ago

for all we know this is one of their test cases

reverius42 2y ago
Nice that some places still hire testers.

vlovich123 2y ago

It’s a visceral demo that execs and customers can interact with to demonstrate Mitsubishi’s expertise in robotics. It’s both for PR purposes (improving the value of the brand) + sales (come talk to us for your robot needs) + defending the R&D departments budget (hey exec, isn’t this thing we built really cool? We’re actually accomplishing progress on long term goals, not just collecting a paycheck and doing nothing).

ThrowawayTestr 2y ago

It's a demonstration of extremely fast and precise motors.

mitthrowaway2 2y ago

Projects like these attract attention at trade shows. Probably for their servomotors and controls division, because their customers will be interested in doing similar high-speed manipulation for more practical applications, and showing off that you can do this using these products gives a good feel for other things that you might also be able to do with them.

krm01 2y ago
So it’s basically a marketing project? Are you aware of some articles I can read about these types of projects and their economics as well as ROI?
SmallDeadGuy 2y ago
Exactly this. My dad still demonstrates his CubeStormer and other Lego robots on behalf of Arm at trade shows, because both the Lego robot control unit and the phones used for camera/solver are Arm-powered. And CubeStormer 3 set the previous record over 10 years ago at this point. CubeStormer was a hobby project though, so not the same as this robot which looks like it entirely uses company resources.

TylerE 2y ago

So they can sell giant expensive industrial robotics.

anigbrowl 2y ago

- How can we market our world-class precision manufacturing skills more effectively - What if we make a robot that solves Rubik's cube at insane speeds - Sounds cool, see you in 3 months

jaydeegee 2y ago

2 things it's a marketing exercise but it's also R&D an actual test use case for high speed precision motors/controllers. I can imagine this video is almost nsfw for folk building industrial machines.

brazzy 2y ago
I know what you mean, but... Not safe for work - because it's their job?