Spinning jet

GE Research is experimenting with synthetic jets in several places. One is in cooling LED lamps, and another is in trying to figure out new ways to better aerodynamically control airplanes.

As part of that research, the company is working extensively with these synthetic jets, which are based on piezo electric actuators and work like small bellows. Through a small hole, oxygen is sucked in and pushed back out, and the system works extremely fast. In this case, the force of the propulsion from the jet alone can spin this arm around at a fairly high rate of speed.

Click here to read the related story on the projects of GE Research, and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.