From Research to Reality:
The Next Generation of Acoustic Manipulation

AcoustoFab builds acoustic manipulation systems that move, sort, mix, analyse, and deposit matter without physical contact.

Our technology is built on decades of scientific progress in acoustic radiation forces, phased arrays, acoustic holography, and containerless processing. Today, we are turning that research into practical platforms for industry and laboratories.

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A Brief History of Acoustic Levitation

  • Blue and black sound wave icon with text 'Audio Analytics'

    1866

    Standing-wave nodes

    Augustus Kundt observed dust collecting at nodes in a resonant tube, demonstrating acoustic radiation forces that later underpinned levitation.

  • The phrase 'math is hard' with a stylized letter 'f' and an ampersand in orange.

    1930–1960

    Theory

    Work by King and Gorkov formalised the forces acting on particles in sound fields, providing the equations used in modern levitation design.

  • Logo with stylized abstract human figure and orbit around a central circle.

    1933

    First droplets levitated

    Bücks and Müller levitated alcohol droplets at standing-wave nodes, proving deliberate acoustic levitation was possible.

  • Graph showing the deuterium-fueled fusion reaction with isotopes deuterium and tritium.

    Mid–20th century–1980s

    Containerless processing and microgravity

    New acoustic devices and microgravity experiments on Space Shuttle missions explored radiation forces on levitated droplets in low gravity.

  • Blue physics wave symbol between the words 'Quantum Mechanics'.

    2015

    Holographic acoustic trapping

    Prof. Sriram Subramanian’s group optimised ultrasonic phased arrays to create holographic acoustic elements, including tweezers, twisters, and bottle beams, moving acoustic levitation from static traps towards dynamic, 3D manipulation of matter.

  • Simplified representation of a molecule with a central atom connected to three other atoms, all depicted as orange circles, on a black background.

    2017

    TinyLev to Alchema

    The open TinyLev levitator made single-trap levitation widely accessible, enabling hundreds of papers in cell proteomics, crystallisation, and reaction kinetics; AcoustoFab’s Alchema platform extends this into programmable, multi-trap, three-axis levitation with automation, scripting, and real-time feedback.

  • Blue stacked layers icon with the words "Stack Overflow" beside it.

    2020s

    From demonstrations to platforms

    The field has moved beyond isolated levitation demos. Researchers have shown automated droplet handling, multi-droplet merging, optical readout, containerless assays, acoustic 3D fabrication, and conveyor-based sorting. AcoustoFab builds on this shift, turning acoustic manipulation into practical, programmable systems for real-world use.

  • A black logo featuring three orange right-pointing arrows stacked horizontally, with black text above that reads 'Advance Your Career'.

    2025

    Industrialisation

    Acoustic manipulation began moving into practical systems, with conveyor-based acoustic sorting demonstrating high-throughput, contact-free separation for agritech and industrial sorting, while programmable lab platforms advanced automated droplet handling, containerless assays, and materials workflows for research and life sciences.

White abstract wave pattern on black background.

Levitation Redefined through Acoustic Holography

At the heart of our technology lies acoustic holography, a method of creating 3D sound patterns that can precisely manipulate objects. Just as visual holograms use light to form 3D images, acoustic holography uses sound waves to shape ‘fields’ in the air or liquid. By carefully calculating how sound waves interact, we create custom pressure zones that can move, hold, or sort small solids and liquids without contact. Our computational solutions leverage phase retrieval algorithms to design these holograms, enabling us to adapt and fine-tune the technology for a wide range of applications with unmatched precision.

acoustic-levitation-technology

Levitation by Sound:
The Science of Acoustic Forces

Sound levitation uses the pressure delivered by multiple ultrasound speakers. Like waves in the sea, the pressure from 2 speakers can add together (i.e, helping create a higher wave) or cancel each other. Controlling the contribution of each of our speakers we can create areas of high pressure, areas of no pressure, or areas of no pressure surrounded by high pressure (i.e., like a pressure “cage”) that allow us to trap objects inside them.

  • From a holography perspective, this involves solving complex computational challenges to design and create these 3D patterns. The 'magic sauce' lies in how we program our custom-built transducer array to dynamically generate these patterns at high speed and in different locations.

    Unlike magnetic levitation, which can only be used with ferromagnetic materials, sound levitation directly relies on delivering mechanical pressure on the surface of the material, making it versatile for manipulating both solids and liquids of varying shape, size and density. This technology’s precision, material versatility and non-invasive nature make it ideal for delicate tasks across industries.

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Our Research

AcoustoFab’s pioneering research includes the first demonstration of an acoustic tractor beam (Nature Comms, 2015) and high performance computation of such sound fields for one (Nature, 2019) or multiple points (SIGGRAPH’ 2020). Our founders real-time boundary element method (BEM) solver (Science Advances, 2022) overcomes previous limitations, enabling precise, high-performance operation in environments containing external objects, such as imaging, liquid dispensing or other devices.

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Blue wireframe abstract wave pattern on black background.
Blue wireframe abstract wave pattern on black background.

What’s Possible Today?

AcoustoFab’s sound-based levitation handles diverse materials, from light liquids to dense solids like mercury and diamond, in sizes from sub-millimetres to centimetres. Our technology enables simultaneous levitation at varied speeds and scales, transforming materials science, biotechnology, and manufacturing. Watch our videos to see it in action.

acoustic levitation technology applications

Levitation Through Sound: Cutting-Edge Applications

AcoustoFab’s sound levitation drives innovation across industries. In lab automation, it enables contamination-free sample prep and real-time mid-air analysis. In 3D printing, it achieves precise component placement and tailored textures for aerospace and automotive. In agritech, it improves non-contact seed sorting, enhancing quality and reducing waste. Fully programmable, our solutions ensure damage-free handling and high accuracy for advanced industries.

Capabilities