Invisible orbit

The reason why glass tracks can achieve invisibility in liquids is because they have the same refractive index as…

Invisible orbit — Frontier Technology exhibit for science museums
Studio rendering
CategoryFrontier Technology
Standard sizeCustom size
SupplySingle unit or batch · OEM to your drawing
Lead timeStandard 4–8 weeks after deposit (confirmed per contract)
Warranty1 year, structure and control
DocumentsSpecification sheet · control diagram · spare-part list

A standard catalogue model: the dimensions, control package and finish are fixed, which is what keeps the price and the lead time predictable. Size, colour and interface language can be adapted without a new design cycle.

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01 / Overview

The reason why glass tracks can achieve invisibility in liquids is because they have the same refractive index as the surrounding liquid. The refractive index is defined as the ratio of the propagation speed of light in a vacuum to its propagation speed in a specific medium. At present, people are researching how to achieve invisibility by matching the refractive index of materials and the environment, and then designing stealth materials.

02 / How visitors use it

The unit is designed for unsupervised public use: controls are recessed or shielded, moving parts are enclosed, and the interface is operable by a child of about six with no instruction. Where a screen is used, the language can be switched without changing the hardware, and the content can be replaced on site.

03 / The science behind it

(1) The principle of orbital invisibility is that when glass is in the air, the propagation speed of light in the glass will exceed that of the glass, causing the light to bend. The propagation speed of light is very close in vegetable oil mixed liquids and glass. This also caused the glass to seem to disappear into the vegetable oil mixture. (2) The propagation speed and refractive index of light vary in different media due to the refractive index of the medium. The refractive index (n) is a physical quantity that describes the ratio of the speed of light propagation in a medium to its speed in vacuum. The speed of light propagation in vacuum is the fastest, approximately 299792458 meters per second (m/s), which is the standard value for the speed of light (c). The formula for refractive index can be expressed as: n=c/v, where c is the velocity of light in vacuum and v is the velocity of light in a specific medium. For visible light, the refractive index of water is approximately 1.33, while for glass.

04 / Built for a public floor

Every unit leaves the factory after a running test: mechanisms cycled, electronics burned in, edges dressed, fixings torqued and marked. Wear parts — bearings, sliders, lamps, belts, touch panels — are modular and listed on the spare-part sheet, so a venue technician can replace them without returning the exhibit. Crating is plywood with foam blocking; the loading plan and packing list travel with the shipment.

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Other models from the Frontier Technology line, all held to the same specification and the same control package.

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