Solving the Rubik’s Cube has been made easier by a 13-year-old pupil from a north Belfast school.
Ruarcc, who attends St Malachy’s College on the Antrim Road, built a Lego robot that can solve the 3D combination puzzle.
Using 5,000 lines of Python code, the year 10 student’s creation can solve the puzzle from any pre-set variation using colour sensors.
The teen worked on the robot in the school’s creative digital technology hub, which was launched last year.
The idea of the hub, by school principal Paul McBride, gained support from the Belfast Charitable Society and the James Kane Foundation.
Pupils and staff from schools across north Belfast are also able to use the facility to develop digital skills.
Teacher Clare McGrath told BBC NI that the college also started a new Key Stage Three curriculum, which included programming Lego robots, such as Ruarcc’s, using block-based coding.
She said: “I said, build what you want... impress me.
“He (Ruarcc) showed me it working; there’s 5,000 lines of Python code; no matter what way you mix it up, the robot will solve it, and it’s very impressive.
“Creativity is an amazing skill, so we need to be providing opportunities in school to see where they can take things - that builds the innovators of the future.”
The teenager also said: “People tend to be amazed that it can solve one.
“Now that it’s working, it’s really rewarding, and it feels great.”
