"It takes tremendous computing power to solve such a highly complex puzzle with a machine."<p>It doesn't. I can be done quickly on any conventional computer: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimal_solutions_for_Rubik%27s_Cube" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimal_solutions_for_Rubik%27...</a><p>The time is still impressive, but this doesn't showcase any real improvements to any technology.
Fast stepper motor control was solved a long time ago, and takes little computer power. Watch this daisy wheel printer, a technology from the 1970s.[1] The print wheel is driven by a stepper motor, and for each character, it must be spun to the correct position, brought to a precision stop, and held while the hammer hits the selected letter tine.<p>Daisy wheel printers were the first mass-market device with multiple powered mechanical moving parts coordinated entirely in software. The four actuators (daisy wheel stepper, hammer actuator, carriage stepper, and platen stepper) were connected only by electronics and software. Invented by David S. Lee.<p>[1] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTBM9JELUYQ" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTBM9JELUYQ</a>
"The microcontroller AURIX™, one of the world’s most powerful minicomputers, also contributed to the record-breaking effort: It is one of the essential elements that enable autonomous driving."<p>I do not think the term 'minicomputer' was intended to mean... a microcontroller.
Sub1 not reloaded solved in 0.887 seconds in Jan 2016<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVF_XUccMuo" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVF_XUccMuo</a>
Sooooo this is a hardware problem.<p>Rubiks cubes are solved.<p>So it doesn't have to do the 'minimum' moves as they say, might waste time working it out.<p>But even so it probably does the minimum moves.<p>Since I think that's mostly easy, just hard to prove.<p>But either way, even if you add 5 moves to use a lookup table, back to hardware.<p>For humans rubiks cubes are very easy, just memorise the instructions. Books have been out for decades.<p>[Edit] it's interesting that they imply it might take more moves for physical reasons. Not sure if it's about destroying the cube or speed of turning.
'The computing chip, or the “brain” of the machine...'<p>Well, that's some serious 1983 Omni Magazine shit right there.<p>(Sorry to point it out, but it just seems like maybe the sort of thing we're past having to ELI5 nowadays.)