Moving objects precisely with sound
EPFL researchers use soundwaves for precise object manipulation, advancing drug delivery. Wave momentum shaping navigates objects in dynamic environments, offering noninvasive biomedical applications and potential for micro-level cell manipulation. Nature Physics publication showcases groundbreaking research.
Read original articleEPFL researchers have developed a groundbreaking method using soundwaves to precisely move floating objects, offering potential applications in targeted drug delivery. Unlike optical tweezers, which require controlled conditions, this new approach, called wave momentum shaping, can navigate objects in dynamic environments based solely on their position. The team successfully directed a floating ping-pong ball through an aquatic obstacle course using soundwaves and a camera-microphone setup. This technique, inspired by optical wavefront shaping, shows promise for biomedical applications due to sound's noninvasive nature. It could revolutionize drug delivery by targeting specific cells, aiding biological analysis, tissue engineering, and even 3D printing. The researchers aim to scale down their experiments to the micro-level using ultrasonic waves for cell manipulation. Published in Nature Physics, this research opens doors for precise object manipulation in various fields, potentially revolutionizing how we interact with and control objects using sound.
"Hey honey, move this thing over there. No, an inch and a half to the left. NOPE - back to the right a few mm, and forward a little. Yup - wait...just a little bit more. There, you've got it!"