12 Tech Inventions From Star Wars That Already Exist Today

7. Tractor Beams

Tractor beam research actually dates back to the 1960s before Star Wars first graced our cinema screens. However, nothing tangible was created until the 90s, when physicists started making serious developments in the lab, though on a much smaller scale than in A New Hope. Of course, it's been relatively easy to remotely move certain objects for many decades simply by employing magnetic or electrostatic forces. However, these techniques only work on particles that are magnetic or electrically charged. A new method had to be developed in order to direct objects that do not fall into either of these categories. Initially, researchers began experimenting with what were described as "gravity impulses" to move very small particles around the lab. This resulted in limited success that has thus far not been replicated by repeated studies. However, as recently as October 2015, physicists have been developing tractor beam technology that works in an entirely different way. An array of speaker-like devices send out high pitched vibrations to create cushions of air similar to that which is generated beneath a helicopter rotor blade. These vibration cushions have a small area between them where the object sits, as though it is being gripped by fingers made of air. Moving the locations of the air cushions in tandem allows the object to be carried around at will or indeed held in place. Let's just gloss over the fact that this wouldn't work in space because there's no air to vibrate.