“Student’s Sonic Tech Stuns Experts”: Groundbreaking Remote Control System Uses Sound Waves to Guide Ocean Robots With Pinpoint Accuracy

In the realm of scientific innovation, sound waves have long surpassed their role as mere carriers of music or voices. From mapping the seafloor to guiding submarines, their ability to travel through various media and exert force has made them indispensable tools in science and engineering. The latest breakthrough comes from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where a doctoral student, Dajun Zhang, has developed a groundbreaking metamaterial that allows objects to be manipulated underwater using only sound. This development promises significant advancements in underwater robotics and medical technology, revolutionizing how we interact with and control objects in liquid environments.

A Sawtooth Structure That Responds to Sound

The core of this innovation lies in a uniquely engineered surface featuring a sawtooth pattern. This design alters the way sound waves reflect when targeted from different angles, enabling precise control over the motion of objects. Zhang’s metamaterial allows for the remote pushing, pulling, and rotating of objects without any physical contact, solely through acoustic waves. “By carefully targeting the floating or submerged metamaterial with precise sound waves,” Zhang explains, “I can push and rotate any object attached to it exactly as much as I want.” The potential applications of this technology are vast, offering new possibilities in fields ranging from underwater operations to precise medical interventions.

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From Robotics to Medicine: Remote Movement Gets a Boost

Zhang envisions a wide array of applications for his metamaterial beyond the confines of his laboratory. In underwater settings, it could facilitate the assembly of structures, guide robotic vehicles, or even deliver medications to hard-to-reach areas within the human body. The method’s non-contact nature minimizes the risk of damage or contamination, making it ideal for delicate environments. “Our metamaterial offers a method to apply different acoustic radiation forces on objects in liquid media,” Zhang notes, highlighting its potential to revolutionize underwater robotics and medical device delivery. This advancement underscores the transformative power of sound-based manipulation.

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Cracking the Fabrication Challenge

Developing such a metamaterial is no small feat. Traditional fabrication methods often fall short in terms of precision and cost-effectiveness. Recognizing these limitations, Zhang devised a novel approach that combines high-resolution output with a strong acoustic contrast relative to water. This method not only reduces costs but also achieves the necessary fabrication resolution and acoustic impedance contrast crucial for underwater applications. “This method is not only low cost and easy to implement but also achieves high fabrication resolution,” Zhang emphasizes, pointing to the breakthrough’s potential to overcome existing challenges in the field of underwater metamaterials.

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Floating, Submerged, and Fully Controlled

In testing, Zhang attached his metamaterial to various objects, including wood, wax, and plastic foam. Whether floating or submerged, the material enabled him to manipulate them in all directions using sound, including rotation. Looking ahead, Zhang aims to create a smaller, more flexible version of the metamaterial, with potential applications in remote surgery and autonomous underwater robotics. “Our research opens new opportunities for both underwater acoustic metamaterials and remote manipulation,” Zhang asserts, envisioning a future where acoustic metamaterials and metasurfaces generate forces for applications ranging from underwater exploration to in-body levitation and manipulation. This exciting development was presented at the joint 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and the 25th International Congress on Acoustics.

The groundbreaking work of Dajun Zhang marks a significant leap forward in the field of sound-based manipulation. By harnessing the power of sound waves, his metamaterial offers a non-invasive, precise method for controlling objects in liquid environments. As we look to the future, the potential applications of this technology continue to expand, promising advancements in fields as diverse as underwater robotics and medical technology. How might this innovation shape the way we interact with and control our environment in the years to come?

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