Jigsaw: The Ultimate Puzzle-Solving Robot

Jul 14, 2024

Jigsaw: The Ultimate Puzzle-Solving Robot

Introduction

  • Jigsaw: A robot designed to solve jigsaw puzzles extremely fast.
  • Development Time: Three years to achieve current capabilities.
  • Speed: Potentially 200 times faster than the world's fastest human jigsaw puzzler.

Human Capabilities in Puzzle Solving

Four Key Tasks Humans Perform

  1. Picking up a Piece
    • Hands: 27 bones, 34 muscles, high precision, and dexterity.
    • Opposable thumbs for effective tool manipulation.
  2. Rotating the Piece
    • Utilizing hand and arm coordination.
    • Human arm configuration is unparalleled in technical capability.
  3. Moving the Piece into Position
    • Requires entire arm movement and spatial accuracy.
  4. Deciding Placement
    • Uses neural processes involving pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, visual memory, and executive function.

Building Jigsaw: Addressing the Key Tasks

Task 1: Picking up a Piece

  • Suction Cup Mechanism: Specialized suction cup used in assembly lines.
  • Solenoid and Vacuum Pump: Control suction for precise pickup and release of pieces.

Task 2: Rotating the Piece

  • Donut Motor: Extremely fine-tuned motor precise to 0.005 degrees.

Task 3: Moving the Piece

  • CNC Router with ClearPath Motors: Industrial servo motors achieving high accuracy.
  • Precision: Can place a puzzle piece down to 0.0005 inches.

Task 4: Determining Placement

  • Edge Analysis Technique: Simplifies the pattern recognition problem.
    • Eyes: Camera to capture images of pieces.
    • Spline Matching: Matching edge splines to fit pieces together.
    • Filtering: Reducing solution space by spline length.
    • Area Calculation: Quantifying the overlap area to find matches.
  • Algorithm: Maps solution space, backtracks at dead ends, and ensures minimal overlap.

Scaling Up and Final Challenges

  • Challenge: Scaling from 12-piece to 1000-piece puzzle.
  • Errors: Compounding errors from piece slop and puzzle shifting.
  • Feedback System: Adding an encoder and wiggle routine for precise placement.
  • Success: Successfully solved a 1000-piece puzzle.

Human Versus Robot

Initial Human Competitors

  • Tammy McLeod: World record holder for fastest human jigsaw puzzler.
  • Kristen Bell: Actor and personal friend, engaged in initial challenges.

Insights from Tammy McLeod

  1. Turn Pieces Over: View all pieces simultaneously.
  2. Strategize with Edge Pieces: Use edges last if there's a helpful inner pattern.
  3. Group by Features: Organize by colors, textures, or patterns.
  4. Sort by Shape for Same-Looking Pieces: Create piles based on the number of ins and outs.

Final Showdown

  • Tammy vs. Jigsaw: Tammy’s strength is color acuity but struggles with shape memory.
  • Robot Triumph: Jigsaw solves the puzzle faster, taking just 4 hours for a 1000-piece puzzle.
  • Outcome: Demonstrated robot superiority in jigsaw puzzle solving through precise mechanical and software integration.

Additional Information

  • HackPack: A new product for learning engineering skills similar to those used in building Jigsaw.
  • Community and Support: Offers programable robots, a community forum, and a code-checking AI chatbot.
  • Prize: Chance to win a free box and a platinum diploma for free college tuition.

Conclusion

  • Achievement: Jigsaw represents a significant technical achievement and showcases advanced robotic capabilities.
  • Future Prospects: Encourages human interest in engineering and problem-solving through products like HackPack.

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