British scientists have developed technology for the world’s first sonic ‘tractor beam’, the likes that are seen in sci-fi such as Star Trek. Scientists have developed a way to suspend tiny objects in mid-air by using high-intensity sound waves from a panel of miniature loudspeakers.
Researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Sussex, in collaboration with Ultrahaptics think the discovery will open up a whole host of opportunities in the likes of health care and delicate electronics manufacturing.
“We all know that sound waves can have a physical effect, but here we have managed to control the sound to a degree never previously achieved.” said Bruce Drinkwater, Professor of Ultrasonics at the University of Bristol.
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.”
The high-intensity sound waves enable Scientists to manipulate objects in mid air in an invisible “force field”.