News

Water-Based Tractor Beam Gives Hope for a Star-Trek Like Future

A team of scientists in Australia have developed a working tractor beam technology, and while we aren’t at the stage of pulling in huge enemy spaceships in defence of our planet, we can grasp some control over objects in water.

height=450

The new water-based tractor beam can control water flow patterns, allowing it to manoeuvre floating objects, something the team say may also be used to help confine oil spills.

“A tractor beam is a popular term which, I think it captures quite well the basic principal,” lead researcher Dr. Horst Punzmann, an engineer at the Australian National University in Canberra, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “You put an object there and it propagates, it floats backwards to the source of the wave.”

“We’ve managed to manipulate floating objects to move toward the wave, to move in the direction of the wave or to keep them stationary in the flow,” Punzmann explains in a video released by the university.

The effect is impressive, but even the team add that existing mathematical theories cannot describe the currents produced by the larger waves. The technique may only work in water at the moment, but understanding how these waves interact could be the step needed to making a tractor beam that works out of the water.

Thank you Huffington for providing us with this information.

Image courtesy of Huffington.

Peter Donnell

As a child still in my 30's (but not for long), I spend my day combining my love of music and movies with a life-long passion for gaming, from arcade classics and retro consoles to the latest high-end PC and console games. So it's no wonder I write about tech and test the latest hardware while I enjoy my hobbies!

Disqus Comments Loading...

Recent Posts

Trust Gaming GXT 609 Zoxa 2.0 PC Speakers

SOUNDS GREAT – Full stereo sound (12W peak power) gives your setup a booming audio…

4 hours ago

PowerA Wired Controller for Nintendo Switch

Special Edition Yoshi design Ergonomic controller shape with Nintendo Switch button layout Detachable 10ft (3m)…

4 hours ago

Logitech G Saitek PRO Flight Rudder Pedals

Fluid Motion: These flight rudder pedals are smooth and accurate that enable precise control over…

4 hours ago

Logitech G Saitek Farm Sim Controller

Heavy Equipment Bundle: Includes a steering wheel for heavy machinery, gas and brake pedals, and…

4 hours ago

Razer Ornata V3 X – Low Profile Gaming Keyboard

Low-profile Keys for an ergonomic gaming experience. With slimmer keycaps and shorter switches, enjoy natural…

4 hours ago

Glorious Gaming Model O Wired Gaming Mouse

Size & style: Ambidextrous lightweight mouse for gaming. Built for speed, control and comfort, with…

4 hours ago