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2024-02-20
Tim Cliffe - Blog
The Future of Synthetic Training Environments - Acousto-phoretic Volumetric Displays
01 Target Audience
(01.1) Anyone interested in future trends in training environment development.
02 Executive Summary
(02.1) We are all familiar with Holograms, and their use of interference patterns within visible light to create three-dimensional objects.
(02.2) What is, to date, less well-known is the use of sound to create Acoustic Holograms. However, Acoustic Holograms have a significant advantage over their 'light' cousins, Acoustic Holograms can be designed to make the three-dimensional object tangible, that is, they can be touched and manipulated.
(02.3) The name for the technology that enables the display of Acoustic Holograms has been dubbed an Acousto-phoretic Volumetric Display (AVP).
03 Structure of This Article
- (04) A Brief History
- (05) The Principle
- (06) The Acoustic Hologram (AVP)
- (07) Non-Display Applications
- (08) The Future of Synthetic Training Environments
04 A Brief History
(04.1) In April 2014, physicists Acoustic Tractor Beam.
Christine E. M. Démoré et.al., 2014 [Accessed 2019-11-22]
(External link, opens in a new tab/window). published a paper demonstrating the ability of an Acoustic Tractor Beam to push an object, in mid-air.
(04.2) In October 2015, Holographic acoustic elements for manipulation of levitated objects.
Asier Marzo et.al., 2015 [Accessed 2019-11-22]
(External link, opens in a new tab/window). other scientists demonstrated the ability of an Acoustic Tractor Beam to manipulate objects in mid-air.
(04.3) In April 2019, researchers demonstrated the first Enhancing dynamic positioning performance inside mid-air acoustic levitator.
Tatsuki Fushimi et.al., 2019 [Accessed 2019-11-22]
(External link, opens in a new tab/window). Acousto-phoretic Display.
(04.4) In November 2019, A volumetric display for visual, tactile and audio presentation using acoustic trapping.
Ryuji Hirayama et.al., 2019 [Accessed 2019-11-22]
(External link, opens in a new tab/window). further developments were announced.
At the time of writing, this is the most recent work in the field, and is the inspiration for this blog.
05 The Principle
(05.1) As with so many great ideas, the underlying principle is very simple.
(05.2) Many of us will remember playing with blow-pipes, as children. A rapidly moving volume of air is used to propel a projectile, such as a ball of paper, or a dart.
(05.3) Now, modify that idea. Turn the blow-pipe on its end, provide a continuous flow of air, and make it much bigger.
Now, you have people floating, and able to practice manoeuvres for a sky-dive.
(05.4) Take this idea, and modify it again. Instead of just 'trapping' an object in one place and making it float, make it possible to move the 'trapped' object wherever you want.
The same idea is used by a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), which uses a beam of light, deflected by a magnetic field, to scan the surface of a television screen so quickly it appears to create a recognisable image, a television picture.
(05.5) Now, adapt the principle used by a CRT, but instead of using magnetism to deflect a beam of light, use sound waves to 'trap' a small object, in mid-air, and then deflect it so quickly it 'draws' a recognisable three-dimensional shape.
Now illuminate different areas of the 'drawn' shape, and you have a three-dimensional globe floating in mid-air.
06 The Acoustic Hologram (AVP)
(06.1) The early developments of this technology, in 2014, could only push or pull a single object, using ultrasound. In the intervening years it has become possible to manipulate an object to produce a recognisable structure.
(06.2) Now, five and a half years later, not only has it become possible to create more complex structures, using ultrasound, it has become possible to give those structures 'texture'.
(06.3) As if that wasn't impressive enough, the technology can also produce audible sounds and create objects that can be touched, and interacted with.
(06.4) The AVP uses ultrasound transducers to manipulate an object. The ultrasound 'phase' is used to create the levitation trap, whilst the ultrasound's amplitude can be used, for example, to create audible sound, by making the suspended object vibrate.
(06.5) The AVP can create a secondary set of Acoustic Holograms, which produce enough pressure to allow the 'drawn' object to be touched.
(06.6) Now, add the ability for the AVP to interpret gestures, such as those used in VR and touch-screen devices, and the Acoustic Hologram becomes an interactive display.
07 Non-Display Applications
(07.1) The precision of control provided by AVP technology, in the manipulation of objects, could be used in surgery. The technology could manipulate a tiny solid fragment and use it as a scalpel, without the need for invasive procedures or anaesthetics. Operations deemed too complicated or dangerous for conventional surgery procedures, could become straightforward.
(07.2) With sufficient power, AVP technology could be used to levitate any object, that needs to be moved, regardless of its location or the hazards presented by the environment.
08 The Future of Synthetic Training Environments
(08.1) AVPs could be used for large outdoor displays, such as concerts, performances, or elements of theme-park rides.
(08.2) AVPs could also be used for training and educational purposes. Imagine the ultimate synthetic training/educational environment, that can display anything you want, that can be touched and heard. Interactivity would attain such a level of sophistication and authenticity, you would think it was the real thing.
(08.3) Judging by progress to date, AVPs are not likely to be generally available for about 5 to 10 years, but when they are, the only limit to their application will be our imagination (and the budget).
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