Scientists Create Pyramid Shaped 'Star Trek' Tractor Beam

I thought the shape made by the sound waves was interesting. (Assuming the picture is an accurate representation)

British scientists have developed technology for the world's first sonic 'tractor beam'.

By using high-intensity sound waves from a panel of miniature loudspeakers, they are able to move or suspend tiny objects in mid-air.

Researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Sussex, in collaboration with Ultrahaptics, believe the technology could open up a new world of possibilities, including in health care and delicate electronics manufacturing.

"We all know that sound waves can have a physical effect," said Bruce Drinkwater, Professor of Ultrasonics at the University of Bristol.

"But here we have managed to control the sound to a degree never previously achieved."

PhD student Asier Marzo said: "It was an incredible experience the first time we saw the object held in place by the tractor beam. All my hard work has paid off, it's brilliant."

Previous scientific work in the area has relied on an object being surrounded by loud speakers, a factor that limits the extent of movement.

This time, the panel of speakers is flat.

By using the high-intensity sound waves, scientists have been able to create a 3D "hologram" that allows them to manipulate objects in mid air.

Another way of describing the technology is an invisible "force field", something that has previously only been available in the world of science fiction.

SOURCE

Find some old Epson Piezo print heads and build one of these at home?

video of the device.

www.bbc.co.uk...

im underwhelmed by the device currently.

a tractor beam can't rely on sound. or, rather, if it does it has little value in space.

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

We are missing some esoteric details obviously.
Why a pyramid?
why a matrix similar to a chess board?

Acoustic manipulation of crystaline structures dates way back, but the initial goal was optical interferometry.
Probably a much coveted technology.

I know this is off-topic, but I just had to star you for your forum name.

Interesting post though! Thanks for sharing!

Is it simply pushing against the object? or is it actually holding it in place, for example if they turn the device upside down will the object remain in place?

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

There are many emerging technology's that are very helpful on battlefields

I'm not exactly proud of the future path that we are all walking at the moment, but a lot of this stuff will come in handy later.

this paired with the Incapacitating Flashlight type tech and guess what we just cooked up?



the more technology the more the future gets unpredictable and mysterious i love it

a reply to: PickledOnion

there are thousands of possibility for this device and all of them will come

originally posted by: hknudzkknexnt
this paired with the Incapacitating Flashlight type tech and guess what we just cooked up?

the more technology the more the future gets unpredictable and mysterious

i love it

The newest wave of hip hop music?

originally posted by: Cauliflower
a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

We are missing some esoteric details obviously.
Why a pyramid?
why a matrix similar to a chess board?

It's creating a standing wave pattern with sound. Every loudspeaker creates a series of points around it where the air molecules are either stationary or bouncing around and pushing objects in a particular direction. The points of stability are called nulls or standing wave nodes. All these waves either amplify or cancel each other out.

With a single loudspeaker, you can only keep objects in a single line. But once you have a 2D grid of them, you can move objects sideways as well as vertically.

If each loudspeaker creates a hemisphere of sound, then only a pyramidal shape in the middle of the board is of use.

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan


your funny

not exactly

originally posted by: Cauliflower
a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

We are missing some esoteric details obviously.
Why a pyramid?
why a matrix similar to a chess board?

Acoustic manipulation of crystaline structures dates way back, but the initial goal was optical interferometry.
Probably a much coveted technology.

A "pyramid" because the writer is an idiot.

A "matrix" because it's basically a steered array. They're making a null in the middle where the little airsoft pellet is riding.

The other esoteric bit is where they don't tell you just how little it can lift, and how that's not going to get much better, due to acoustic levitation being pretty sucky as a technique.

a reply to: PickledOnion

One has to wonder how much time and money was wasted on this device that has no logical use... likely ever.
(OK well there is the idea that sonic levitation of some sort has been used in construction of megaliths I suppose)

a reply to: sycomix

Well eventually it could maybe lead to repulsor lift technology.