Helicopter cube solving (and patterns)

[mrCage]

Hey all!

I just wonder what method you guys use for helicopter cube solving. I just got mine today, and i do corners first solving quite easily - though not fast yet.

I have also been pondering about various patterns possible on this puzzle. One obvious one is the "2 spot pattern". Interchange all the face centers of 2 opposite face centers. I can do this in 24 turns, not all that efficient. The cube in cube pattern seems impossible. Can anyone prove this??

Per

PS! My helicopter cube (from Mefferts) does not seem to have shape shifting turns. Is this correct??

[qqwref]

There are shape shifting (jumbling) turns but they aren't obvious. Slowly turn one axis until an adjacent one will turn and you will see how it works. You can't really move corners out of position (except temporarily) but you can move centers into different orbits. So any pattern with solvable corners is possible.

My method (when it's been scrambled without jumbling) is as follows:
- First layer centers.
- Finish first layer by pairing the corners up with two centers each before inserting.
- Last layer corners (I solve one by one, then do last two at once).
- Last layer centers, do the 3-cycles first and then any 2-cycles in pairs.
I use three main algs: J-perm (UL UF UR UF UL), 2-2 cycle ((UF UR)3), 3-cycle ((UF FR UR FR)2) and inverse. And see, it works pretty well:
36.48, (1:01.38), (34.00), 51.96, 42.26, 41.95, 46.47, 57.55, 54.00, 45.83, 49.07, 47.68 => 47.32

[mrCage]

There are shape shifting (jumbling) turns but they aren't obvious. Slowly turn one axis until an adjacent one will turn and you will see how it works. You can't really move corners out of position (except temporarily) but you can move centers into different orbits. So any pattern with solvable corners is possible.

My method (when it's been scrambled without jumbling) is as follows:
- First layer centers.
- Finish first layer by pairing the corners up with two centers each before inserting.
- Last layer corners (I solve one by one, then do last two at once).
- Last layer centers, do the 3-cycles first and then any 2-cycles in pairs.
I use three main algs: J-perm (UL UF UR UF UL), 2-2 cycle ((UF UR)3), 3-cycle ((UF FR UR FR)2) and inverse. And see, it works pretty well:
36.48, (1:01.38), (34.00), 51.96, 42.26, 41.95, 46.47, 57.55, 54.00, 45.83, 49.07, 47.68 => 47.32

Hi. I have to sit down and contemplate over some diagrams to fully understand your method. Solving without shape shifting turns is always possible anyhow-evn if scrambled with them.

And yes i realised that cube in cube pattern is indeed possible. I managed to twist 2 wings (with 2 easy corner 3-cycles). And the centers are indeed possible to set up also.

Per

[TomZ]

Solving without shape shifting turns is always possible anyhow-evn if scrambled with them.

That's not true. There are many positions that you cannot achieve without jumbling.

[mrCage]

Solving without shape shifting turns is always possible anyhow-evn if scrambled with them.

That's not true. There are many positions that you cannot achieve without jumbling.

I think we would have to distinguish between normal helicopter cube and a picture version where the exact location of centers had to be fixed.

Center swap is possible when combined with another invisible swap...

Per

[jaap]

Solving without shape shifting turns is always possible anyhow-evn if scrambled with them.

That's not true. There are many positions that you cannot achieve without jumbling.

I think we would have to distinguish between normal helicopter cube and a picture version where the exact location of centers had to be fixed.

Center swap is possible when combined with another invisible swap...

Per

No. It is impossible to swap two centre pieces of the same colour, without shapeshifting/jumbling.
It is also impossible for example to make the top-right centre piece in the front face and the front-left centre piece in the top face the same colour.
Choose a single centre piece, and see where you can place that piece using only non-jumbling moves. It cannot be placed anywhere - it is very restricted.

[qqwref]

And yes i realised that cube in cube pattern is indeed possible. I managed to twist 2 wings (with 2 easy corner 3-cycles). And the centers are indeed possible to set up also.

It's not obvious that the centers can be setup in this way - at least, it's impossible without jumbling. Using non-jumbling moves there are four orbits (Urf Rbu Bdr Dlb Lfd Ful, and the same with y/y'/y2 rotation), each with one centers of each color, which the centers can't move out of, although with jumbling moves you can move the centers around freely.

[mrCage]

There are shape shifting (jumbling) turns but they aren't obvious. Slowly turn one axis until an adjacent one will turn and you will see how it works. You can't really move corners out of position (except temporarily) but you can move centers into different orbits. So any pattern with solvable corners is possible.

My method (when it's been scrambled without jumbling) is as follows:
- First layer centers.
- Finish first layer by pairing the corners up with two centers each before inserting.
- Last layer corners (I solve one by one, then do last two at once).
- Last layer centers, do the 3-cycles first and then any 2-cycles in pairs.
I use three main algs: J-perm (UL UF UR UF UL), 2-2 cycle ((UF UR)3), 3-cycle ((UF FR UR FR)2) and inverse. And see, it works pretty well:
36.48, (1:01.38), (34.00), 51.96, 42.26, 41.95, 46.47, 57.55, 54.00, 45.83, 49.07, 47.68 => 47.32

I was able to create an adjacent 2 spot pattern by using combination of your 2 given center algs: UF FR UR FR UF UR FR UR, a dual swap. Use the symmetrical version to create the pattern.

I can also twist 3 non-adjacent wings (corners) in 16 turns.

Per

[coinman]

My method (when it's been scrambled without jumbling) is as follows:
- First layer centers.
- Finish first layer by pairing the corners up with two centers each before inserting.
- Last layer corners (I solve one by one, then do last two at once).
- Last layer centers, do the 3-cycles first and then any 2-cycles in pairs.
I use three main algs: J-perm (UL UF UR UF UL), 2-2 cycle ((UF UR)3), 3-cycle ((UF FR UR FR)2) and inverse. And see, it works pretty well:
36.48, (1:01.38), (34.00), 51.96, 42.26, 41.95, 46.47, 57.55, 54.00, 45.83, 49.07, 47.68 => 47.32

How do you do this step? I can't find a way to pair the corners with centers easily and if manage i can't keep them paired up wile moving it to insert it in the right slot.

[Portponky]

- Finish first layer by pairing the corners up with two centers each before inserting.

How do you do this step? I can't find a way to pair the corners with centers easily and if manage i can't keep them paired up wile moving it to insert it in the right slot.

What I do is first I get the corner underneath its final location with the top layer colour facing downwards, so it's only one twist away from being solved. You want to get one center on either side of this corner. Find one of the centers (there are only four valid locations) and get it one twist away from aligning with the corner. Twist the corner away, twist the center in, and then twist the corner back. Repeat this for the other center, and then you can twist the corner up to the top layer along with the centers. Repeat again for the remaining corners and you've done that step.