

Additionally, it is widely considered to be the world’s best-selling toy. Rubik’s Cube is listed as one of the 100 most influential inventions during the 20th century. This invention caused the widespread interest in the world owing to its unique characteristics, which exerted a profound impact on mankind. Rubik’s Cube is a 3D combination puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik and was originally called the Magic Cube.

Finally, the applications and prospects of Rubik’s Cube in the field of mechanism are discussed. After that, the present researches of Rubik’s Cube are reviewed in various disciplines at home and abroad, including the researches of Rubik’s Cube scientific metaphors, reduction algorithms, characteristic applications, and mechanism issues.

First, the invention and origin of Rubik’s Cube are presented, and then the special characteristics of the cube itself are analyzed. This paper provides a basic understanding of the Rubik’s Cube and shows its mechanical art from the aspects of origin and development, characteristics, research status and especially its mechanical engineering design, as well as making a vision for the application in mechanism. As a classic brain-training toy well known to the public, Rubik’s Cube was used for scientific research and technology development by many scholars. Rubik’s Cube is a widely popular mechanical puzzle that has attracted attention around the world because of its unique characteristics.
