A solution for Rubik's Maze
(+ Inca mini Spotlight)
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If you think that the Rubik's Maze is just another version of Rubik's
Snake, think again!!!
Six cubes connected by a metal string with short springs on both ends, enables
all types of movement.
The cubes can virtually "climb" on each other, and (of course) rotate
vertically and horizontally.
Each cube has yellow and black colors and the target is to find a combination
where the black line
forms a continuous loop. The challenge can be very confusing as there is no
known starting point!
This is a very rare puzzle that belong to a different class from the Rubic's
cube, but it is the same exciting!
An even more rare puzzle that is very similar to Rubik's Maze is the Inca
which consists of eight cubes.
Unfortunately, the one in my collection is missing three pieces, but it is
still fully functional:
In both puzzles there is a continuous cut that enables each cube (using the
string) to move in different positions with
respect to the other cubes.It can be seen below that the cuts on the Inca
are different to the ones on the Rubik's Maze.
(The cuts are shown as cyan color on the Rubik's Maze and black color on the
Inca).
Unfortunately for the Inca, the challenge is quite easy, as there exists
a known path/target.
That is definitely not the case for the Rubik's Maze!
And for some reason, those puzzles remind me of the Knossos Labyrinth and the... Minotaurus!!!
________ THE SOLUTION ________
Let us give each cube a number, just like below:
Then analysing all possibilities, we end up with eight different solutions.
This is because, although we only have one possibility of how the pieces
are placed with respect to other, three pieces may be oriented differently.
More specifically:
The first picture, shows how we need to place all six cubes with respect
to each other.
Then, we show how each numbered cube can be oriented correctly to give the
solution
(each cube is represented by six connected faces).
The darker colors show the cube faces that will be hidden after reaching
the desired shape,
while the white color shows the cube face that must be on the top.
As it can be seen above, each of the three cubes with numbers
1, 3, and 5 may be placed in two different ways.
Therefore, we have 2 x 2 x 2 = 8 different solutions.
The pictures below show both sides of two solutions. PICTURE
1 shows the configuration of all six faces.
PICTURE 2 shows the solution, but this
time with all three cubes 1,3,5 oriented differently.
PICTURE 1
PICTURE 2
By looking at the cuts, it is easy to recognise the differences!!! ;-)
(yeap, the differently oriented cubes, are the blinking ones!)
And now I must go and find a solution for the two Rubik's Master Mazes!!!!
:-P
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Please let me know of any comments or suggestions. Thanks! :-)