Researchers at University College London (UCL) have achieved a major breakthrough by developing a new acoustic system that enables robots to collaboratively transport objects. The results are detailed in a paper published on the arXiv preprint server. Inspired by the collective carrying behavior of insects such as ants, the system uses high-frequency sound waves to achieve contact-free object transport in mid-air, demonstrating enormous potential for complex task execution.
While most robots today operate individually, they can perform complex tasks with remarkable speed and efficiency when working as a team. The novel acoustic robotic system proposed by UCL researchers is built on this principle, aiming to enhance transport efficiency and adaptability through robotic collaboration.
Paper authors Narsimlu Kemsaram, Akin Delibasi, and colleagues note that collaborative transport is widespread in biological systems such as ant colonies, significantly improving efficiency and adaptability in dynamic environments. Drawing inspiration from this, they designed a collaborative transport system relying on ultrasonic transducers and onboard robotic control systems. The ultrasonic transducers generate interference patterns in the air, creating acoustic pressure fields capable of trapping, levitating, and holding small objects, while the control system precisely generates these fields at specific locations for high-precision object manipulation.
The team developed two object transport strategies: independent transport and collaborative transport. In independent mode, a single acoustic robot can move objects without physical contact; in collaborative mode, multiple robots work together to move objects in mid-air, mimicking insect swarm behavior. Using their self-developed acoustic robot prototypes, the researchers validated the system’s feasibility in a series of real-world experiments and tested both strategies.
Experimental results show that the system can stably levitate objects and achieve efficient and precise transport. The researchers evaluated levitation stability using microphones, transport efficiency with a phase-space motion capture system, and clock synchronization accuracy with an oscilloscope, comprehensively verifying system performance.
Looking ahead, the system is expected to undergo validation in broader experiments to further assess its potential for solving real-world problems. The researchers state that this novel acoustic robotic system holds promise for significant applications in efficient material handling and transport, micro-assembly of devices and products, and biomedical fields, offering new development opportunities for high-end equipment manufacturing.
