Pendulums studied in mixed reality state
Published: March 12, 2008 at 2:33 PM
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., March 12 (UPI) -- U.S. physicists have used a virtual and real pendulum to create the first mixed reality state in a physical system.
University of Illinois scientists said through bidirectional instantaneous coupling, each pendulum "sensed" the other, their motions became correlated and the two began swinging as one.
"In a mixed reality state there is no clear boundary between the real system and the virtual system," said Associate Professor Alfred Hubler. "The line blurs between what's real and what isn't."
In the experiment, Hubler and graduate student Vadas Gintautas connected a mechanical pendulum to a virtual one. The researchers sent data about the real pendulum to the virtual one, and sent information about the virtual pendulum to a motor that influenced motion of the real pendulum.
When the lengths of the two pendulums were dissimilar, they remained in a dual reality state. When the lengths of the pendulums were similar, however, they "suddenly noticed each other, synchronized their motions, and danced together indefinitely," said Hubler.
The experiment and its potential ramifications are to be discussed this week in New Orleans during the annual meeting of the American Physical Society.
University of Illinois scientists said through bidirectional instantaneous coupling, each pendulum "sensed" the other, their motions became correlated and the two began swinging as one.
"In a mixed reality state there is no clear boundary between the real system and the virtual system," said Associate Professor Alfred Hubler. "The line blurs between what's real and what isn't."
In the experiment, Hubler and graduate student Vadas Gintautas connected a mechanical pendulum to a virtual one. The researchers sent data about the real pendulum to the virtual one, and sent information about the virtual pendulum to a motor that influenced motion of the real pendulum.
When the lengths of the two pendulums were dissimilar, they remained in a dual reality state. When the lengths of the pendulums were similar, however, they "suddenly noticed each other, synchronized their motions, and danced together indefinitely," said Hubler.
The experiment and its potential ramifications are to be discussed this week in New Orleans during the annual meeting of the American Physical Society.
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This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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