18-04-2011, 03:03 PM
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WHAT IS OPTICAL CAMOUFLAGE?
• Optical camouflage is a hypothetical type of active camouflage currently only in a very primitive stage of development. The idea is relatively straightforward: to create the illusion of invisibility by covering an object with something that projects the scene directly behind that object .
• Optical camouflage is a kind of active camouflage which completely envelopes the wearer. It displays an image of the scene on the side opposite the viewer on it, so that the viewer can "see through" the wearer, rendering the wearer invisible.
• Although optical is a term that technically refers to all forms of light, most proposed forms of optical camouflage would only provide invisibility in the visible portion of the spectrum. Prototype examples and proposed designs of optical camouflage devices range back to the late eighties at least, and the concept began to appear in fiction in the late nineties.
Fact or Fiction?
• If you’ve seen Harry Potter then you may recognize the idea of an invisibility cloak.
When did this all begin?
Tokyo Method:
• Professor Tachi from the University of Tokyo first had the idea of developing something to make objects invisible in 1977. But the image was flat & unrealistic . Then he came up with retro-reflective material which causes the coat to act as a screen and gives a transparent - or invisible - effect.
• 1. Uses camera to capture picture
2. Processes it to a computer
3. Projected onto the reflective cloak
Duke Method:
Duke University is using microwave beam deflection, making it appear almost as if nothing were there at all.
1. Rely on product called “meta-material”
2. The meta-material will influence the electromagnetic waves around it creating a “warped effect.”
3. This creates the invisible effect.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Although optical is a term that technically refers to all forms of light, most
proposed forms of optical camouflage would only provide invisibility in the visible portion of the spectrum.
This technology is currently only in a very primitive stage of development.
Creating complete optical camouflage across the visible light spectrum would require a coating or suit covered in tiny cameras and projectors, programmed to gather visual data from a multitude of different angles and project the gathered images outwards in an equally large number of different directions to give the illusion of invisibility from all angles. For a surface subject to bending like a flexible suit, a massive amount of computing power and embedded sensors would be necessary to continuously project the correct images in all directions
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Creating complete optical camouflage across the visible light spectrum would require a coating or suit covered in tiny cameras and projectors, programmed to gather visual data from a multitude of different angles and project the gathered images outwards in an equally large number of different directions to give the illusion of invisibility from all angles. For a surface subject to bending like a flexible suit, a massive amount of computing power and embedded sensors would be necessary to continuously project the correct images in all directions. This would almost certainly require sophisticated nanotechnology, as our computers, projectors, and cameras are not yet miniaturized enough to meet these conditions.
Components of Optical Camouflage
Components
Video Camera
• Capturing the background image requires a video camera, which sits behind the person wearing the cloak. The video from the camera must be in a digital format so it can be sent to a computer for processing.
Computer
• For optical camouflage to work, the hardware/software combo must take the captured image from the video camera, calculate the appropriate perspective to simulate reality and transform the captured image into the image that will be projected onto the retro-reflective material.
• The Complete System
• REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS
• Application #1: Medical
• Surgery
• Doctors could use the “invisibility” to see through their hands and tools to make the underlying tissue more “visible.”
• Application #2: Aviation
• Pilots could use optical camouflage to make cockpit floors transparent
• They can see through the cockpit floors to the runway and landing gear
• Application #3: Automotive
• Cars
• A transparent rear hatch or tailgate would make it easy to know when to stop.
WHAT IS OPTICAL CAMOUFLAGE?
• Optical camouflage is a hypothetical type of active camouflage currently only in a very primitive stage of development. The idea is relatively straightforward: to create the illusion of invisibility by covering an object with something that projects the scene directly behind that object .
• Optical camouflage is a kind of active camouflage which completely envelopes the wearer. It displays an image of the scene on the side opposite the viewer on it, so that the viewer can "see through" the wearer, rendering the wearer invisible.
• Although optical is a term that technically refers to all forms of light, most proposed forms of optical camouflage would only provide invisibility in the visible portion of the spectrum. Prototype examples and proposed designs of optical camouflage devices range back to the late eighties at least, and the concept began to appear in fiction in the late nineties.
Fact or Fiction?
• If you’ve seen Harry Potter then you may recognize the idea of an invisibility cloak.
When did this all begin?
Tokyo Method:
• Professor Tachi from the University of Tokyo first had the idea of developing something to make objects invisible in 1977. But the image was flat & unrealistic . Then he came up with retro-reflective material which causes the coat to act as a screen and gives a transparent - or invisible - effect.
• 1. Uses camera to capture picture
2. Processes it to a computer
3. Projected onto the reflective cloak
Duke Method:
Duke University is using microwave beam deflection, making it appear almost as if nothing were there at all.
1. Rely on product called “meta-material”
2. The meta-material will influence the electromagnetic waves around it creating a “warped effect.”
3. This creates the invisible effect.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Although optical is a term that technically refers to all forms of light, most
proposed forms of optical camouflage would only provide invisibility in the visible portion of the spectrum.
This technology is currently only in a very primitive stage of development.
Creating complete optical camouflage across the visible light spectrum would require a coating or suit covered in tiny cameras and projectors, programmed to gather visual data from a multitude of different angles and project the gathered images outwards in an equally large number of different directions to give the illusion of invisibility from all angles. For a surface subject to bending like a flexible suit, a massive amount of computing power and embedded sensors would be necessary to continuously project the correct images in all directions
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Creating complete optical camouflage across the visible light spectrum would require a coating or suit covered in tiny cameras and projectors, programmed to gather visual data from a multitude of different angles and project the gathered images outwards in an equally large number of different directions to give the illusion of invisibility from all angles. For a surface subject to bending like a flexible suit, a massive amount of computing power and embedded sensors would be necessary to continuously project the correct images in all directions. This would almost certainly require sophisticated nanotechnology, as our computers, projectors, and cameras are not yet miniaturized enough to meet these conditions.
Components of Optical Camouflage
Components
Video Camera
• Capturing the background image requires a video camera, which sits behind the person wearing the cloak. The video from the camera must be in a digital format so it can be sent to a computer for processing.
Computer
• For optical camouflage to work, the hardware/software combo must take the captured image from the video camera, calculate the appropriate perspective to simulate reality and transform the captured image into the image that will be projected onto the retro-reflective material.
• The Complete System
• REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS
• Application #1: Medical
• Surgery
• Doctors could use the “invisibility” to see through their hands and tools to make the underlying tissue more “visible.”
• Application #2: Aviation
• Pilots could use optical camouflage to make cockpit floors transparent
• They can see through the cockpit floors to the runway and landing gear
• Application #3: Automotive
• Cars
• A transparent rear hatch or tailgate would make it easy to know when to stop.
