Magic carpet ride could be one step closer after levitation breakthrough by Hong Kong scientists
Chinese University researchers say device is far less costly than existing maglev systems
Ever wondered if the magic carpet from One Thousand and One Nights could become a reality?
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong may be getting close, as they have developed a self-levitating device that floats and moves on almost any flat surface.
While the current prototype can only carry light objects such as a smartphone, engineers hope the innovation can eventually be used to build hoverboards or even levitating trains.
Unveiling the results after 18 months of research and tests, the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering at Chinese University showcased the capabilities of a modified actuator, a mechanical device that converts energy into motion.
Using what they call “near-field acoustic levitation principles”, the device transforms electric currents into ultrasonic vibrations of over 20,000 Hz.
This creates a 0.1 millimetre thin film of air – roughly the size of a strand of hair – wedged between the object and the ground, effectively making the device levitate.
During his demonstration, Assistant Professor Guo Ping , who led the research, was able to move a metal weight connected to electricity over a smooth plastic surface, without applying any external force.