Levitate · Project

Touchable Mid-Air Displays Using Ultrasound — No Screens, No Gloves, No Contact

digitalPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine reaching into thin air and actually feeling a button or a shape that isn't physically there. This project used ultrasound waves to levitate tiny particles and create objects you can see, touch, and hear — all floating in mid-air. Think of it like a hologram you can grab and move with your bare hands. The team built working prototypes combining levitation, touch feedback, directional sound, and visual projection into one system controlled by a software API.

By the numbers

EUR 2,999,870

EU funding for developing mid-air interaction prototypes

consortium partners across 4 countries

demonstrator versions built with increasing capability

demo-related deliverables including prototypes and public workshops

public outreach workshop rounds conducted

The business problem

What needed solving

Touchscreens dominate how we interact with technology, but they fail in critical situations — surgeons can't touch screens with sterile gloves, drivers shouldn't look away from the road, and flat glass gives no physical feedback. There is a growing need for interfaces that let people interact with digital content using natural hand movements, with real tactile confirmation, in mid-air — no contact, no wearables, no training required.

The solution

What was built

The team built working prototypes of ultrasound transducer arrays that levitate particles, provide tactile feedback to bare hands, emit directional sound, and support visual projection — all combined into one system. They delivered 3 demonstrator versions progressing from basic object selection to full manipulation (positioning, rotation, scaling, deformation) with a Python software API, plus conducted 4 rounds of public demonstration workshops.

Audience

Who needs this

Automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers developing touchless cockpit controlsMedical device companies needing sterile touchless interfaces for operating roomsInteractive display and exhibition technology providersGaming and VR hardware companies seeking physical feedback without wearablesIndustrial control panel manufacturers for clean-room or hazardous environments

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive HMI

enterprise

Target: Car manufacturers and Tier-1 automotive suppliers developing next-generation cockpit interfaces

If you are an automotive OEM struggling with driver distraction from touchscreens — this project developed ultrasound-based mid-air controls that give drivers real tactile feedback without taking their eyes off the road. The system lets users feel buttons and sliders floating in space, confirmed through 3 demonstrator versions. With 7 partners across 4 countries refining the interaction design, this could replace risky touchscreen interfaces in vehicles.

Medical Devices

enterprise

Target: Surgical equipment manufacturers and hospital IT integrators

If you are a medical device company needing sterile touchless controls for operating rooms — this project built prototypes where users manipulate floating objects with bare hands and receive tactile confirmation. Surgeons could scroll through imaging data or adjust equipment settings without touching any surface, reducing contamination risk. The team delivered a working prototype with haptics, audio, and visual feedback combined.

Retail & Exhibition Technology

mid-size

Target: Interactive display companies, museum technology providers, and experiential marketing agencies

If you are a display technology company looking for the next leap beyond touchscreens for retail or exhibitions — this project created demonstrators where visitors walk up and interact with floating objects without any wearables or training. The 10 demo deliverables included public workshop demonstrations proving the walk-up-and-use concept works with real audiences. This could turn any product showcase into a memorable hands-on experience.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or integrate this technology?

The project was funded with EUR 2,999,870 under FET Open (early-stage research). Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the University of Glasgow as coordinator. Given the research stage, expect further R&D investment before commercial integration is viable.

Can this work at industrial scale — in a factory or a busy retail store?

The current prototypes are lab-scale demonstrators. The team built 3 demonstrator versions with increasing capability, but scaling to noisy real-world environments with multiple simultaneous users would require additional engineering. The ultrasound transducer arrays would need to be ruggedized and scaled for commercial deployment.

Who owns the intellectual property?

IP is held by the 7-partner consortium led by the University of Glasgow. As a Horizon 2020 RIA project, partners typically retain ownership of their foreground IP. Licensing access would need to go through the coordinator or the specific partner that developed the component you need.

How mature is this technology — is it ready to deploy?

The team delivered working prototypes and 3 versions of demonstrators, progressing from basic selection to full multi-modal interaction. However, this was a FET Open project (Future and Emerging Technologies), which by definition funds early-stage, high-risk research. Expect at least 3-5 years of further development before commercial products.

What exactly was demonstrated and to whom?

The project ran at least 4 rounds of public demonstrator workshops as outreach activities, plus built 3 progressively advanced demonstrators (v1: selection actions, v2: positioning/rotation/scaling, v3: full multi-modal applications). A working prototype with levitation, haptics, visual projection, and a Python API was also delivered.

Does this replace existing touchscreen technology?

It does not replace touchscreens today but offers an alternative for specific use cases where physical contact is undesirable — sterile environments, driver safety, or immersive experiences. Based on available project data, the technology is complementary rather than a direct replacement at its current maturity level.

Consortium

Who built it

The Levitate consortium of 7 partners across 4 countries (Germany, Denmark, Sweden, UK) is overwhelmingly academic — 6 universities and just 1 industry partner (14% industry ratio). The University of Glasgow coordinates. This composition is typical for FET Open projects that push scientific boundaries rather than commercialize quickly. For a business looking to adopt this technology, the low industry involvement means you would likely need to invest in significant engineering and productization work. The single SME in the consortium may be your best entry point for technology transfer discussions, but the heavy academic tilt signals this is still firmly in the research-to-prototype transition.

UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOWCoordinator · UK
AARHUS UNIVERSITETparticipant · DK
ULTRALEAP LIMITEDparticipant · UK
THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEXparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITAT BAYREUTHparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDONparticipant · UK
CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA ABparticipant · SE

How to reach the team

University of Glasgow, UK — coordinator of a 7-partner consortium. SciTransfer can help identify the right contact person.

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how ultrasound mid-air interaction could fit your product roadmap? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the Levitate research team and help assess technology fit for your use case.

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