We’ve seen all kinds of interfaces come and go over the years, from keyboards and mice to lightpens and touchscreens. Now, a group of researchers at the University of Tokyo have built a device that enables haptic interaction with a balloon.
It takes quite a rig to achieve this feat. A vaguely-spherical frame is used, which mounts eleven airborne ultrasound phased arrays, or AUPA. Each phased array is made up of many ultrasonic transducers, with the machine having 2739 individual transducers in total. The phased arrays are controlled in such a way to create a sound field that moves the balloon around and holds it in various desired positions. Closed loop control is achieved with the use of stereo cameras, which track the balloon’s position at high speed.
The system allows the balloon to be moved around quickly in three dimensions. Plus, a user can touch and interact with the balloon directly as it floats in mid-air. They can even drag and redirect the balloon, which can be tracked by the stereo camera system.
The research team don’t highlight any particular applications for this technology at this stage. We’re not expecting the Touch Balloon on next year’s Surface Pro or the next MacBook, that’s for sure. However, it’s great fun to look at and likely has some creative applications that we can’t think of off the top of our heads. Share yours in the comments.
The 2022 Hackaday Prize has a special focus on odd inputs and peculiar peripherals, so be sure to check out that whole scene. Video after the break.
There’s your next generation drone controller
Anybody else remember “Rover” – the homicidal balloon in the 60s “Prisoner” series?
https://youtu.be/I6Ffr1U7KMY
Still fuels many of my nightmares but I can’t not rewatch it any time it comes around. Lost isn’t even worthy to hold its penny farthing.
I imagine some drugs were involved as well. This was the 60’s after all.
How about the ‘Queens boobies’ safe in ‘Last remake of Beau Geste’.
Nah, a balloon just doesn’t feel natural in the hand, I’ll stick with my diamagnetic levitation and live frog kthx.
When i did research with bats, we were instructed to avoid letting the bats call in our direction, as it was unclear whether the ultrasonics (110dB and up, if near your head) would be bad for your inner ear – i cannot but wonder at those huge phased arrays of ultrasound emitters….
Or the effects of having one’s hand in an ultrasonic array all day?
Well now I gotta search pubMed for deafness in Mexican bat guano harvesters….
Does it fit on a desktop?
Yes!
But will anything else?
Would love to see this with multiple soap bubbles.