An anonymous reader quotes CNET:
Engineers from the University of Bristol have been able to trap (essentially levitate) objects using an acoustic tractor beam that is larger than the wavelengths of sound used by the device… [A]pplications could include touchless control of drug capsules or micro-surgical implements inside the human body using sonic tractor beams. It could also become possible to move and manipulate fragile items in a whole new way. “I’m particularly excited by the idea of contactless production lines where delicate objects are assembled without touching them,” said Bristol’s Bruce Drinkwater, who oversaw the work.
Futurism.com adds that other researchers are also working on tractor beams in manufacturing, including one at the University of Glasgow. “The group demonstrated the process by assembling a pattern of solder beads using an optoelectronic trap, taking the liquid away, then applying heat to fuse the beads together and forge electrical connections,” they report, adding “It should be possible to manipulate as many as 10,000 beads at the same time.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot – Will We One Day Use Tractor Beams In Manufacturing?