Here is the associated paper published in Nature. Generation and reversal of surface flows by propagating waves http://www.nature.com/nphys/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nphys3041.html
On Mon, Aug 11, 2014 at 8:00 PM, H Veeder <[email protected]> wrote: > Australian scientists create sci-fi-like 'water tractor beam' that can > move floating objects at will > > > http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/australian-scientists-create-sci-fi-like-water-tractor-beam-that-can-move-floating-objects-at-will/33855/ > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUYCkHWgVss > > Monday, August 11, 2014, 6:01 PM - A research team at Australian National > University have produced something remarkable. In essence, they have > created a tractor beam, something really only seen in science fiction so > far, but rather than using energy, they've done it using water. > > According to the ANU website: "The team, led by Dr Horst Punzmann, > discovered they can control water flow patterns with simple wave > generators, enabling them to move floating objects at will. The team also > experimented with different shaped plungers to generate different swirling > flow patterns. The surprisingly simple technique gives scientists a way of > controlling things adrift on water in a way they have never had before, > resembling sci-fi tractor beams that draw in objects." > > The video above just demonstrates the concept using a ping pong ball, but > this could be very useful in applications like containing and moving oil > spills, moving damaged or drifting ships, or anything else that would > benefit from creating specific flow-patterns in the water. Although not > mentioned, this might even be useful for applications like power generation. > > The experiments are only small-scale at the moment, but with a proof of > concept behind them now, this will very likely be scaled up from here! >
