Teleporter Invented: German Scientists New 'Teleporter' – But Not Exactly Of The 'Star Trek' Kind

German scientists have invented a new system that destructively scans objects and transmits the data through encrypted communication across any distance and rebuilds them in another location. The virtual "teleporter" system was developed by inventors from the Hasso Plattner Institute.

The inventors explained that what the system can do is not exactly teleportation as featured in Star Trek movies, adding that the technology relies on destructive scanning and 3D printing, according to the Guardian.

In a paper submitted for the Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction conference at the Stanford University in California, the six-member team of scientists noted that the system enables an object to be scanned layer-by-layer at one end of the system and transmitted to another station.

"(It creates) a scan per layer which is then transmitted through an encrypted communication to a 3D printer. The printer then replicates the original object layer by layer, effectively teleporting an object from one place to another," the paper explained.

"We present a simple self-contained appliance that allows relocating inanimate physical objects across distance. Users place an object into the sender unit, enter the address of a receiver unit, and press the relocate button," the group added.

The team of scientists said the system, dubbed as "Scotty," is vastly different from other systems that merely copy physical object as its layer-by-layer deconstruction and encrypted transmission ensures that only one copy of the object exists at any one time, according to the scientists.

The new system may not be able to actually teleport an object from one location to another like what fans see on Star Trek, but the scientists are optimistic that the breakthrough could be key for companies wishing to sell goods via home 3D printers.

"Real-world applications are pretty short for this kind of destruction and reconstruction. But the encryption, transmission and 3D printing objects could be key for companies wishing to sell goods via home 3D printers, ensuring only one copy could be made per purchase – effectively digital rights management for 3D printed objects," the Guardian said.