Sound: Levitation and Resonance Patterns

Sound. From the healing effects of music, to helping the blind see, sound has hidden but powerful properties. Scientists are now rediscovering inspiring applications. Japanese scientists used sound waves to levitate small objects, and an artist has demonstrated with salt the beauty of complex patterns different sound waves can create. 


3D Levitation: Acoustic Manipulation
Japanese scientists at the University of Tokyo and Nagoya Institute of Technology have developed a way to levitate objects (lightweight particles, small creatures, small screws and water droplets), and manipulate them mid-air in all directions. The technique can manipulate objects by creating a focal point between four ultrasonic phased arrays. A constant and specific sound wave frequency output from the arrays create an overlap, which becomes a levitation area where objects can be manipulated in mid-air.

Resonance Patterns 
An independent artist made a demonstration of how sound travels at various frequencies using salt. The experiment was done on a Chladni plate using a tone generator, and a speaker. When salt was added to the plate and a tone was played, specific frequencies vibrate the metal plate with areas where there is no vibration, where the salt falls. This creates beautiful geometric patterns that increase in complexity as the frequency increases. 

We also recommend watching: "MIT Visual Microphone: Extracting Audio from Video" and "Disney Research: Hideout and Aireal Haptic Interfaces".



Soundwaves: Levitation and Resonance Patterns

University of Tokyo is a research university located in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. It is the first of Japan's National Seven Universities, and is considered the most prestigious university in Japan. It ranks as the highest in Asia and 21st in the world according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2013. Nagoya Institute of Technology or Nitech, is a public highest-level educational institution of science and technology located in Nagoya, Japan.