Magical garments and devices that render their wearer invisible have long been the staple of sci-fi and fantasy (The Hobbit, anyone?), but there are many individuals hard at work to make invisibility a reality.
Canadian military contractor HyperStealth Biotechnology Corp. has been making waves claiming to have invented a perfect, passive, and cheap invisibility cloak hyperbolically named "Quantum Stealth," designed to keep the fashion-conscious soldier concealed in any situation. While the cloak's creator, Guy Cramer, hasn't provided any images of his camouflage in action or an explanation of how it works, several other researchers are far more transparent in their attempts to create a real invisibility cloak.
In February of last year, Chinese researchers Wei Xiang Jiang and Tie Jun Cui announced that they had created a device that could direct radio waves around an object in order to change how it appeared on radar. Though the device worked in the lab, it had the traditional drawbacks that plague such creations: it only works for a portion of the spectrum and only at certain angles.
In September 2011, multinational defense company BAE Systems showed off a new technology to mask the shape of a tank in the infrared portion of the spectrum. While it would still be visible to the naked eye, it could be disguised when viewed through night vision goggles. After all, a simple absence of light provides some of the best cover.
Much modern research that looks to completely disguise a three-dimensional object relies on exotic "metamaterials," or artificially constructed materials engineered to have certain properties. Earlier this year, researchers at Duke University created a special metamaterial to guide microwave radiation around a small target. While modest in the laboratory, this particular project is noteworthy for being one of the few to fully disguise its target in all dimensions.
While these are technically impressive creations, most people expect invisibility cloaks to make an object or person, well, invisible. That's a bit closer to what Japanese researcher Dr. Susumu Tachi and his team accomplished with their "Retro-reflective Projection Technology" poncho. This garment, when coupled with cameras and projectors, makes the wearer appear transparent. It's a striking and dramatic effect, though the illusion is greatly limited by its complexity.
"Quantum Stealth" Smartcamo - Colour changing material: Colour
shifting from Desert (Top) to Transitional (Middle) to Woodland (Bottom)
All these other attempts makes the Canadian innovation sound all the more suspect. Many of these projects are the result of enormous investment from huge corporations and even governments. It seems improbable that this modest – though apparently successful – company has succeeded where so many have failed. Cramer hints that his camouflage is truly cutting edge by namedropping nanotechnology and metamaterials, but he doesn't say a thing about peer-reviewed research or patents.
Cramer has certainly captured people's imaginations with his mock-ups, and perhaps even grabbed the attention of the U.S. military. Whether he's actually captured light and bent it to his will is yet to be seen.
To take a closer look at these projects, check out our slideshow [shown below].
1. HyperStealth Biotechnology Corp Quantum Stealth
Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp. has released these mock-ups in order to demonstrate the technology it claims to have shown U.S. military officials. The material allegedly provides passive and total concealment for the wearer without cameras, power sources, or mirrors. company has yet to provide any proof beyond some staged mock-ups, like the one shown here, and anecdotes.
2. Radar Defying Stealth Device
Image: Wikipedia
Using concentric copper rings etched on circuit boards, a Chinese team was able to successfully guide radio waves around a target. This meant that the object appeared much smaller on radar than it otherwise would. aircraft have relied on unique shapes and special materials to defy radar, but this device could allow for stealthy planes the likes of which have never been seen.
3. Adaptive Camouflage for Tanks
Image: YouTube
BAE Systems created a unique armour that can mimic its surroundings in the infrared spectrum, concealing tanks from night vision systems. Impressively, the BAE system could also project different shapes across the tank's skin. For example, if an enemy were close enough to hear the cloaked tank, the crew could instead disguise it as a less threatening jeep. It even doubles as vehicle armour.
4. Duke University Metamaterials
Image: Extreme Tech
Researchers at Duke University modified metamaterials in order to disguise a three-dimensional object from microwave radiation. Though its cloaked target was very small, the technology could hold a lot of promise.
5. Dr. Susumu Tachi's Invisibility Cloak
Image: YouTube
Finally, an actual cloak that actually makes people invisible. The only catch is that it relies on a special poncho, a complex camera, and a projector.
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