The small-scale floating transport hailing from Japan has been unveiled
In a groundbreaking development, Japanese engineers at Yokohama National University have created a wireless levitation device that utilizes acoustic levitation and a wireless drive circuit to achieve ultrafast, frictionless, and untethered omnidirectional movement of small objects [1][2][3]. This device is set to revolutionize multiple industries, including space exploration, bioengineering, automated manufacturing, and precision medicine.
The device eliminates friction completely, enabling objects to move at speeds exceeding 3 meters per second, including on inclined surfaces, without physical contact [2][3]. Unlike traditional transportation methods like conveyor belts, which are hindered by friction and limited directional control, this device allows for agile, omnidirectional movement rather than movement along predefined fixed paths [1][3].
Moreover, the device functions wirelessly and without tethering cables, increasing flexibility and reducing constraints imposed by physical connections [1][4][5]. It can carry small payloads up to approximately 43 grams besides its own weight (limited to ~150 grams total) while maintaining stable levitation [2][3].
The potential applications of this device are vast, including the transportation of miniaturized technologies across fields such as mechanical parts assembly, electronics, chemical handling, and biomedical products [1][3][4]. In the biomedical field, the possibility of transporting cellular samples or tissues without physical contact could revolutionize delivery systems in laboratories and hospitals.
The team is currently working on integrating multiple levitation units in coordinated autonomous robots [6]. The first floating robots could potentially be seen in hospitals or smart factories, silently sliding on a thin layer of air.
This breakthrough offers a transformational impact for industries relying on precise, rapid handling of miniature, delicate components by removing frictional bottlenecks, increasing transport speed and precision, and enabling contactless transport modes not feasible with conventional mechanical methods [1][3].
Funding for this project comes from specialized foundations in mechatronics and precision engineering [7]. In a world that demands surgical precision, extreme miniaturization, and efficient speed, levitation becomes a key competitive advantage. Principal investigator Yuta Sunohara, along with teams from Aichi Institute of Technology, is improving stability under variable load conditions and optimizing performance on irregular surfaces [8].
The applications of this technology could extend to extreme contexts such as space laboratories, microgravity, clean rooms, or advanced microchip assembly [9]. This floating device represents a break from the traditional logic of transportation based on wheels, rails, and friction, marking a new chapter in contactless transportation.
References:
- The Verge
- New Atlas
- IEEE Spectrum
- Phys.org
- Science Daily
- TechXplore
- Nikkei Asia
- Sputnik News
- Science Advances
Read also:
- Presidential Candidate Accused of Hiring Private Spies to Surveil Campaign Rival's Aides
- Unusual Duck-Billed Dinosaur Unearthed in Mexico
- Government Announcements on selected topics (June 11th, 2025)
- Electric collisions involving battery-powered vehicles tend to be costlier than those involving conventional fuel engines.
