Scientists create tiny drones and boats powered entirely by sound

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Forward-looking: Researchers have built miniature boats and flying devices that turn sound into thrust. Their 3D-printed cavities respond to specific frequencies, producing motion without motors, gears, or magnetic parts. The work points to a lighter, simpler way to power extremely small robots.

The technology was developed by EPFL's MicroBioRobotic Systems Lab in Switzerland, and the study was published in Science Advances. It relies on acoustic resonance: when sound at the right frequency enters a hollow chamber, the air inside vibrates strongly. The cavity directs some of that air through an opening, creating a small jet that pushes the device.

The result is a simple propulsion method built into the structure itself. Instead of using sound waves to push an object from outside, as in acoustic levitation experiments, the EPFL devices use sound energy...

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