Real-time acoustic holography with random scattering surfaces. (A) Schematic concept of our acoustic holographic technique that can create multiple levitation traps in the presence of sound-scattering physical objects. Pmax is the maximum amplitude of the sound field pressure. (B) An experimental example of our technique that can levitate four particles with a projection screen (ie, a piece of light fabric) demonstrating an MR display that creates digital content in the presence of a 3D printed physical object. The high computational speeds of our approach allow digital content to be interactive with user input (ie the levitating screen moves according to keyboard input). credit: Scientific achievements (2022). DOI: 10.1126 / sciadv.abn7614
A team of researchers from University College London has developed a way to keep objects levitated by sound waves in the air when other objects obstruct the path of levitation. In their report published in the journal Scientific achievementsthe group describes its self-correcting levitation system.
Previous research has shown that it is possible to levitate objects by firing sound waves at them. Since sound waves are nothing more than air particles moving together in a certain way, the levitating object will fall if the object interferes with the sound waves. In this new effort, researchers have developed new features to address this problem.
credit: Scientific achievements (2022). DOI: 10.1126 / sciadv.abn7614
To protect sound waves from interference, the researchers increased the number of speakers used – they used 256 in their work. They also added software to control each of the speakers. The speakers were arranged in a grid and the objects were levitated by specially shaped sound waves. By programming the speakers in specific ways, the team was able to get the system to work together to keep an object above the grille in the air despite interruptions. If some of the sound waves were blocked, other sound waves were redirected to take their place.
Researchers have proven that their system is viable by testing it with a 3D printed white rabbit as an object of interference. The objects levitated around the rabbit, regardless of its location. In one experiment, researchers levitated beads around a rabbit that formed into a flying butterfly. They also levitated a piece of transparent cloth, which they used as a screen to screen the rabbit they had printed. And they levitated a single drop of water over a glass of water, showing that their system would work even when the obstructing object was a swaying glass of liquid.
This video shows the creation of a butterfly swinging around a 3D printed bunny that can be controlled with hand gestures. credit: Scientific achievements (2022). DOI: 10.1126 / sciadv.abn7614
Researchers suggest that their system could be used for demonstration purposes, such as in museums or advertisements. They then plan to expand their system to allow it to handle multiple interfering objects at once.
Use of sound waves to model the rotation dynamics of inertial multiparticle cluster objects More information: Ryuji Hirayama et al, High-speed acoustic holography with random scattering objects, Scientific achievements (2022). DOI: 10.1126 / sciadv.abn7614
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Citation: A way to protect sound-levitated objects from falling due to interference (2022, June 20), extracted on June 20, 2022 from
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