Dan Knights
danknights "at" gmail "dot" comIntroduction
This page contains links to several research papers and projects in Artificial Intelligence, as well as numberous media clips and articles related to speedcubing (i.e. speed-solving Rubik's Cube). A more detailed page dedicated to speedcubing is here.
From 2004 to 2007, I taught high school math at Enka High School in Candler, NC. In the fall of 2007, I will begin graduate studies in the Computer Science Ph.D. program at the University of Colorado in Boulder. I am married to Baranda, whom I met in San Francisco. Here is a nice picture of us climbing in North Carolina.
Research interests:
- artificial intelligence
- machine learning
- computational neuroscience
- robotics
- Fastest single time (lucky): 8.62 seconds
- Fastest single time (non-lucky): 10.26 seconds
- Fastest average of 10 consecutive solves: 13.82 seconds
- Fastest official single time: 14.57 seconds
Research
Distributed Intelligent Planning and Scheduling (DIPS) for Enhanced Spacecraft Autonomy
1999, June September: Charles River Analytics, Cambridge, MA
Abstract: In this paper, we present a system for Distributed Intelligent Planning and Scheduling (DIPS) that helps a spacecraft function as an autonomous agent. A DIPS-based spacecraft receives only high-level goals from ground station operators, and performs its own planning and scheduling onboard, achieving these goals with onboard subsystems and in cooperation with other spacecraft. The task decentralization in DIPS employs a domain distribution algorithm that typically creates a feasible schedule after the first coordination effort, thereby decreasing inter-agent negotiation during the scheduling process.
Localization and Identification of Visual Landmarks
2000, June September: Middlebury College Robotics and Vision Research Lab, Middlebury, VT
Abstract: This project focused on designing and evaluating methods for reading barcodes on visual landmarks. Such landmarks have many applications, including visual tracking, servo-ing, and mobile robot navigation. Our goal was to improve a preliminary version of the barcode reader developed the previous summer in the Middlebury Robotics and Vision Lab.
Generating a solution to the 15 Puzzle from a video stream input
2001, Research Project. Class: Computer Vision, with Professor Daniel Scharstein.
Collaborators: Dan Knights, Laura Matefy, Victor Dan.
Collaborators: Dan Knights, Laura Matefy, Victor Dan.
Abstract: The goal of this project is to take an image of an unsolved puzzle that lies on a plain sheet of paper and to output the next step to the final solution. We will assume that the puzzle has its edges parallel to the image boundaries. The output will be in the form of an image with an x on the puzzle piece that should be moved into the empty space of the puzzle. The project consists of four different steps. The first three steps involve image processing of the puzzle-image. The
final output of these three steps will be the numerical representation of the unsolved puzzle. In the fourth step we take this numerical representation and output the image of the original puzzle with an arrow pointing to the direction of the next step toward the solution.
Papers, Publications, and Programs
Computer Science
Das, S., Wu, C., and Knights, D. (Charles River Analytics), and W. Truszkowski (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center).
Distributed Intelligent Planning and Scheduling (DIPS) by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Agents Division) (1999).
[pdf] [alt: pdf] A similar version was published in Proceedings of the 2001 AAAI Spring Symposium Series, Palo Alto, CA (March, 2001).
[pdf] [alt: pdf] A similar version was published in Proceedings of the 2001 AAAI Spring Symposium Series, Palo Alto, CA (March, 2001).
Knights, D. and Lanza, J. Localization and identification of visual landmarks (poster summary) in Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges, Volume 16, Issue 4 (2001).
[ACM Citation] and in Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges, Proceedings of the sixth annual CCSC northeastern conference, Middlebury, VT (2001).
[ACM Citation]
[alt: pdf]
[alt: pdf]
Other
Knights, D. Rubiks.com Official Virtual Cube and Cube Solver (web applet) at rubiks.com. Copyright 2001.
[http://www.rubiks.com/cube_online.html]
[http://www.rubiks.com/cube_online.html]
Knights, D. mnp Virtual cube - pre-release version (Shockwave movie). Copyright 2003.
Play with any dimension of cuboid puzzle from 1x1x1 to 5x5x5! Requires Shockwave plug-in. This version is only half finished. There are plenty of bugs. [play here]
Play with any dimension of cuboid puzzle from 1x1x1 to 5x5x5! Requires Shockwave plug-in. This version is only half finished. There are plenty of bugs. [play here]
Knights, D. CubeTimer. Written with Visual Basic. Copyright 2004.
A very simple interface. Provides 3x3x3 Scrambling algorithms. [download]
A very simple interface. Provides 3x3x3 Scrambling algorithms. [download]
Knights, D. Rubik's Cube: 7-Step Beginner Solution by Dan Knights (video) at rubiks.com. Copyright 2002.
[Out of production]
[Out of production]
Knights, D. Rubik's Cube: The Simple Solution by Dan Knights (video) at rubiks.com. Copyright 2003.
[Out of production]
[Out of production]
Knights, D. Revolving Door Solution (pamphlet). Copyright 2004.
My solution to Rubik's Cube using only group theory and the concept of "Revolving Doors". Unlike most solutions, this solution requires no special notation, and it is designed to be fully "understandable" at every step. [pdf]
My solution to Rubik's Cube using only group theory and the concept of "Revolving Doors". Unlike most solutions, this solution requires no special notation, and it is designed to be fully "understandable" at every step. [pdf]
Knights, D. Beginner/Intermediate Solution (pamphlet). Copyright 2004.
I designed this solution for beginning and intermediate solvers. Beginners can learn just one algorithm per step, intermediate solvers can use the extra algorithms (marked with an asterisk) to solve faster. [pdf]
I designed this solution for beginning and intermediate solvers. Beginners can learn just one algorithm per step, intermediate solvers can use the extra algorithms (marked with an asterisk) to solve faster. [pdf]
Media
Rubik's Cube
Discovery Channel's "The Daily Planet"
The 2003 Rubik's Cube World Championship was held in Toronto, Canada. I won. Watch a report by The Discovery Channel's "The Daily Planet" here.
Hartlaub, Peter. The San Francisco Chronicle, "Call it Neo-Cubism": August 03, 2003.
[article]
Botchford, Jason. The Toronto Sun, "Cubists Aren't Puzzled": August 25, 2003.
[article]
Freefall Speedcubing
On Sunday, May 4th, 2003, I solved Rubik's Cube while in freefall. I jumped tandem (with an instructor) from 12,000 feet. This gave me only 30-40 seconds of freefall before we had to open the chute, which would be plenty of time in my living room,
but it's a different story when you're hurtling toward the earth at 130 miles per hour (209 Km per hour). I trained a few times by leaning out of a car at 80 mph on the highway. This was actually my first time jumping, but I wasn't too nervous about the skydiving part...I was only worried about whether or not I could do the cube. For you speedcubers: it took me about 32 seconds to solve using the Fridrich method, no skipped steps, 8-turn orientation, 13-turn permutation. I had the diving instructor scramble it on the plane, which was captured on video by a VH1 camera-man. Watch a video here.
The Big Breakfast
My first TV appearance, in London, in 1999. Erno Rubik was on a rare media tour in the United Kingdom. After the taping of this show was finished, Rubik's public relations invited me to travel with them for the rest of the week. Erno Rubik solved my cube. Video here.
That's Incredible
In 2002, "That's Incredible" held a reunion show. They invited me to represent one of the fads from the 1980s. Video here.
CBS Evening Magazine
This is one of my favorite pieces. Produced by Dave Stoelk. Video here.
NBC San Francisco
A short piece on the local NBC station taped just prior to the 2003 World Championship. Taped at my former place of employment, OSIsoft, in San Leandro, California. Video here.
ESPN SportsCenter
A brief clip on ESPN just after the 2003 World Championship. They call me, "Dan Knight." Video here.
ABC San Francisco
Taped just after the 2003 World Championship. Video here.
The Ellen Show
They had the audience scramble 200 Rubik's Cubes, and then I tried to solve as many as possible in about 45 minutes. They were brand new cubes, which means that they were (a) stiff, and (b) not the same color scheme that I used. Therefore my goal was simply to solve at least 100. Video here.
The Today Show
I had a great time doing this piece. They were very friendly. They gave me 1 minute and 30 seconds to solve as many cubes as I could. Video here.
2x2x3 Custom Rubik's Puzzle
This is a fully functioning custom-made 2x2x3 puzzle similar to Rubik's Cube. I made it with pieces from one Keychain Rubik's Cube and one normal-sized Rubik's Cube. All custom modifications are done with "Magic Sculpt" Putty. More information is available at http://twistypuzzles.com/. Watch a video here.
2x2x4 Custom Rubik's Puzzle
This is a fully functioning custom-made 2x2x4 puzzle similar to Rubik's Cube. I made it with pieces from two normal-sized 2x2x2 Rubik's Cubes. All custom modifications are done with "Magic Sculpt" Putty. More information is available at http://twistypuzzles.com/. Watch a video here.
Solving a Virtual 6x6x6 Cube
I solved a 6x6x6 Virtual Rubik's Cube. This is a capture of the entire solution, at high speed. Quality is poor. If you watch this, you are wasting your time. Video here.
Further speedcubing hints, videos, and stories are here.