By Indraneel Ghosh
Scientists at the University of Tokyo, Japan claim that they have managed to create LED lights which can float in air using ultrasound waves. A first-of-its-kind, the device was named Luciola due to its uncanny resemblance to fireflies. It consists of hemispherical particles, each weighing a measly 16.2 mg, with a diameter of 3.5 mm. They emit a red light powerful enough to illuminate the text. The Japanese government program, Kawahara Common Info Community Mission, which explores possible developments in the field of information and communication technology, funded the research project. In its minuscule size lies the power of 285 micro speakers which emit ultrasonic waves which hold up the light. Since the frequency of ultrasound is beyond the human hearing range, these devices can operate in total “silence”. It can have a wide array of industrial applications, particularly in the field of Internet of Things (IoT).
Internet of Things (IoT)
Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the network of interconnected sensor-based electronic devices. These devices communicate with each other by transferring data using wired or wireless networks. Luciola behaves like a floating LED light in the presence of an ultrasound sound source. It can help simplify the interactions which occur between these electronic devices. Geared with motion and temperature sensors, it can be used in a network of electronic objects, like in a vehicle or an air conditioner, to exchange data. Luciola could float across through air and deliver a message across such device. It could also be used in projection mapping events or detect the presence of humans by means of moving displays made of many such floating lights. IoT devices are part of a new generation of smart devices that will make our lives easier. Its ability to use LED lights to interact with physical objects can be used to solve various practical problems. For instance, a simple application is if you have ‘2+6=’ written on a piece of paper, Luciola can be used to display the output digitally as 8, mid-air.
Challenges faced while creating the design
It took two years for Luciola to get this far. The scientists faced two contrasting problems while designing Luciola. They needed the device to have a small size and weight for levitation and, at the same time, they had to reduce the size of the powering circuit which, at the time was quite large. They designed a new voltage detector circuit to address the issue. This circuit increased the range of distance between the devices needed for powering the circuit.
What’s the next step?
Although it is not commercially viable as of now, it has generated considerable interest in the scientific community due to its potential applications. The Japanese developers predict that it would take around 5-10 years to make it a commercially viable product. If they are successful, the device would revolutionise the transfer of information in IoT networks. It can help solve the data security concerns that have been raised time and again against the wireless interactions in IoT networks.
Featured Image Source: Pixabay
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