EPFL researchers have developed a groundbreaking method using soundwaves to direct floating objects, like a ping-pong ball, around an obstacle course in water. This innovative, optics-inspired approach could revolutionize biomedical applications, such as noninvasive targeted drug delivery. Unlike optical tweezers, the sound-based wave momentum shaping technique is not limited by the object’s environment or physical properties. The method is simple, based on momentum conservation, and has shown potential in navigating complex floaters and overcoming obstacles. The researchers believe this technique could have significant implications in biomedical applications, 3D printing, and even on a microscopic scale, with plans to experiment with ultrasonic waves to manipulate cells.
https://actu.epfl.ch/news/moving-objects-precisely-with-sound-2/