VIDEOS: 3D Levitation Using Sound Waves

On January 5, 2014 by Tim Newman

Three-Dimensional Mid-Air Acoustic Manipulation - set up

When I started watching this video I had to check that it wasn’t April 1st, and it isn’t. So I guess this is real. Some clever chaps and chapesses at Tokyo University are currently working out how to make things levitate and move in 3D space using sound manipulation. When I say working it out, they have actually worked it out. Yoichi Ochiai at Tokyo University is a sound manipulator extraordinaire.

Three-Dimensional Mid-Air Acoustic Manipulation - spheres

Scientists can suspend things using sound-waves already, but only in a 2D plane.  This new technique “levitates and moves particles three-dimensionally by localised ultrasonic standing waves, which are generated by ultrasonic phased arrays.”

I don’t really understand what I just copied and pasted into that last paragraph, but the video has some nice diagrams to help out.

Three-Dimensional Mid-Air Acoustic Manipulation - dust

Perhaps I will finally get my hover board after all?

 

Here’s another video by Yoichi Ochiai, if anything it’s even cooler would you believe?

 

MORE SCIENCE STUFF:

LEVITATION – QUANTUM LOCKING  VIDEO

WHAT’S A SONIC BOOM?

AURORA BOREALIS

AURORA AIRCRAFT

UNEXPLAINED UNDERWATER SOUNDS

24HZ MANIPULATING WATER

Science Collection on Lazer Horse

@media all and (max-width: 228px) { div#darkbackground, div.visiblebox { display: none; } }