This Kickstarter project is the first in my series that will teach you the science needed to develop your own technologies in a particular field of interest.

This project focuses on SOUND and more importantly, ultrasonic levitation.  No, this isn’t some kind of free energy or anti-gravity gimmick.  This is real science that works and the videos prove it.

I have always been fascinated with sound and while experimenting with one of my previous Kickstarter projects, Soundlazer, I came across the amazing principle of ultrasonic levitation.

I was surprised to find out that there were no kits or completed circuit designs available on the internet so I decided to bring this project to the Kickstarter community.

USING SOUND FOR LEVITATION

Ordinary sound waves can be powerful enough to cause dust to collect in a pattern corresponding to the acoustic wave’s nodes. A stereo speaker in a room can cause objects to vibrate and sometimes break.

These feats are nothing compared to the power of sonic levitation. It takes far less effort to influence where dust settles or to shatter a glass than it takes to make objects defy the laws of gravity.  Increasing the amplitude of an acoustic wave causes the sound to be louder, but it doesn’t affect the shape of the waveform or cause it to be more powerful.

CREATE AN ANTI-GRAVITY FIELD THAT WOWs!

Levitating objects with sound can be done by aiming an ultrasonic sound beam at a reflector.  With a little adjustment, the desired standing wave as shown in the illustration can be achieved.  Ultrasonic levitation is a fascinating phenomenon that is fun and educational to explore.

DID TIBETEN MONKS LEVITATE STONES WITH SOUND?

It is believed that priests of the far east were able to lift heavy boulders up high mountains with the help of sounds from musical drums.  The sound waves being generated by a group of more than 200 men were directed in such a way that an anti-gravitational effect was created and rocks were lifted over 250 feet up a mountain.  A Swedish doctor who studied at Oxford University did extensive research on this amazing feat and was said to have witnessed these monks levitating many stones and boulders.

LOUDER THAN A JET ENGINE BUT YOU BARELY HEAR IT

Precautions need to be taken when working with ultrasonic devices powerful enough for levitation.  They can produce ear shattering pressure waves beyond the range of human hearing.  Limiting long term exposure to the pressure wave or wearing earplugs is recommended.  It is because of this high power acoustic radiation that the sound pressure can become strong enough to overcome the pull of earth’s gravity. An extremely intense sound is the key to acoustic levitation — the transducers in many acoustic or ultrasonic levitation systems can produce sounds in excess of 150 decibels (dB). Ordinary conversation is about 60 dB, a loud nightclub is closer to 110 dB and a jet engine can reach sound pressure levels over 120dB.  Each 3dB increase represents a doubling of the sound level.  While the sound wave pressure is intense, it doesn’t travel very far through the air.

This Sonic Levitation Machine produces an ultrasonic wave of 28,000 cycles per second with a wavelength of 12.14286 millimeters.  It uses up to 70 watts of power to produce an intense sound wave powerful enough to levitate objects.  The good news is that bulk the pressure wave only travels about 300mm-450mm (12-18 inches) from the transducer when in air so you and your pets are perfectly safe around the Sonic Levitation Machine.  As extra precaution, be sure to wear ear plugs when you are experimenting with this device for long periods of time.

ANTI-GRAVITY ON EARTH AND IN SPACE

On Earth and in space, the high-pressure areas just below the ultrasonic signal’s node must be large enough to support the floating object.  The object being levitated should measure between one third and half of the wavelength of the sound. The ultrasonic field isn’t big enough to support objects larger than half the wavelength or around 6mm of diameter in the case of our Sonic Levitation Machine.  The higher the frequency of the sound, the shorter the wavelength and therefore smaller the diameter of the object that can be levitated.

Let’s say we wanted to build some kind of anti-gravity device or even a hoverboard like we see in the movies.  In order to do that, we would need dozens or hundreds of ultrasonic transducers producing very specific wavelengths and reflected beams at precise distances.  It may not even be possible given today’s technology but there is nothing wrong with experimenting and trying to see where our research will lead.

Photo of a prototype hoverboard that we have been working on. It’s a fun “what if” project and who knows where it will lead us.  The ultrasonic transducers are mounted to the bottom of the board.  When a signal is applied they create a frictionless surface but not enough to lift the board.  So far, we have discovered that it will take many, many more transducers and maybe even 1.21 jigawatts of power! 

BUILDING A BETTER HOVERBOARD!

Or in this case, just trying to build technology that could lead to a real, working anti-gravity platform or hoverboard.  In theory, with enough power and the right transducers to create a huge amount of sound pressure, you could lift heavy objects off the ground.  The science and math required to do this is complex but it is my hope that this project gets people thinking about what would be needed to achieve that goal.  Maybe one day we will have the floating skateboard we all dreamed of ever since we saw it on the Hollywood big screen.  If not, at least we had fun learning along the way.

THIS PROJECT IS INTENDED TO MAKE YOU THINK!

Sorry, but I love creating projects where the online community is forced to use their brain.  As always, I give you the foundation but it is your job to take this project even further.  We all want to hear what you do with this technology in the future and hope you will share it with all of us.

Some of the possibilities for this technology and project could include:

• Hoverboard
• Retail Displays
• Furniture and heavy object moving device
• Frictionless Bearings
• Transportation
• Science Fair Projects
• and more…

The heart of the Sonic Levitation Machine is the unique electronic driver board that powers the ultrasonic transducer. This type of board has never been available as a kit or assembled before this Kickstarter project.  Unlike typical 28kHz transducer driver boards, this design provides the clean energy needed to levitate objects.  It produces an ultra pure ultrasonic wave that you can clearly see in the dry ice demonstrations.  Some assembly using a screw driver is required but all electronics come fully assembled and tested.

Tesla Motors is giving away their patents so it’s time for us all to share our discoveries.

I hope you will join me in this latest project and learn about this exciting technology.  Even if you have no experience with electronics, most of the rewards come working right out of the box.  Jump in and join me on this journey to discover something new.

All the source files including schematics and parts lists are included with each pledge. Use my design for the foundation of your own sonic levitation engine.