Brothers Smash 10-Year Robotics Record in 45 Seconds

A puzzle cube record that seemed untouchable for 10 years just fell to a pair of brothers who refused to give up after five failed attempts.

Matthew and Thomas Pidden designed and built a robot that solved a 4x4x4 puzzle cube in 45.30 seconds at the University of Bristol on May 12, 2025. The achievement shattered the previous record of 1 minute 18.68 seconds set back in 2014.

Matthew, a university student, chose the challenge as his undergraduate final project. "I have always enjoyed Rubik's Cubes as a child and computer science," he said. "Combining the two felt like a natural progression and a great project."

The brothers split the work perfectly. Matthew handled the math, computer science, and programming while Thomas designed the 3D-printed parts that brought the robot to life.

The final machine featured four robotic arms surrounding the cube, taking turns swooping in to rotate the sides at lightning speed until every color lined up correctly. Two cameras scanned the cube through physical shutters that were removed by hand at the start of each attempt, ensuring the robot solved everything on its own without any pre-knowledge or outside help.

The day of the record attempt tested their determination. The first two tries failed completely. The third attempt succeeded with 55 seconds, breaking the old record but not satisfying the brothers who knew they could do better.

Attempts four and five also failed. But on the sixth try, everything clicked. The crowd that had gathered to watch erupted in cheers as the robot completed the solve in 45.30 seconds.

Why This Inspires

The Pidden brothers show what happens when passion meets persistence. They didn't settle for just breaking a decade-old record. They pushed through five failures to achieve something truly remarkable.

Their collaboration also highlights how combining different skills creates something greater than the sum of its parts. Matthew's software genius paired with Thomas's design expertise built a machine that cut the previous record nearly in half.

Most inspiring of all? This started as a college project fueled by childhood love of puzzle cubes. Sometimes the best innovations come from simply refusing to let go of the things that sparked our curiosity as kids.

The brothers have proven that world records aren't just for massive research labs with unlimited budgets. They're for anyone willing to dream big and keep trying after the fifth failure.