Real-life Tractor Beams exist and are in constant development. Using the properties of water, sound, or light allows for objects to be manipulated.
Tractor Beams at the microscopic particle level can manipulate objects using nothing but light. With the title of Optical Tweezers, the Nobel Prize 2018 in Physics was split in two. With one-half being awarded for the application of optical tweezers in the biological system.
18 Sep 2021 - Optical tweezers - Quick Biochemistry Basics
Tractor Beams with light have reached the macroscopic level. The macroscopic level is objects that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye.
26 Jan 2023 - Scientists Actually Did It: They Built a Real Working Tractor Beam
- Scientists built a working tractor beam—the first example of one that pulls objects visible to the naked eye.
- The tests were in highly controlled laboratory experiments.
- A tractor beam like this one could manipulate vehicles and aircraft on Mars.
In the experiments, a torsional pendulum device presented the laser pulling phenomenon. By controlling the interactions between the light, object, and medium, the new study shows that flexible light manipulation of macroscopical objects is feasible. It also highlights the complexity of laser-matter interactions.
Expect the team, led by Lei Wang, to continuing pushing the possibilities. “Our technique provides a non-contact and long-distance pulling approach, which may be useful for various scientific experiments,” Wang said, via Universe Today.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a42676079/scientists-build-working-tractor-beam/
Using sound waves as the medium to create a Tractor Beam.
27 Jan 2018 - Watch the world’s most powerful sonic tractor beam levitate its biggest catch - Science Magazine
How to build your own Sonic Tractor Beam.
4 Jan 2017 - Portable Acoustic Tractor Beam: build it at your home - BristolIG lab
Using waves in water as the medium to create a Tractor Beam.
11 Aug 2015 - ANU Scientists create a Tractor Beam on water - ANU TV