Japanese invent optical camouflage

Justin · December 9, 2002, 01:36 AM

This is a link to a page that demos a development called 'optical camouflage.' Basically it looks like they've figured out a technique to make an object appear sort of invisible by projecting a background image onto it.

The video clips are really interesting.

http://www.star.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/proj...DIA/xv/oc.html

MitchSchaft · December 9, 2002, 01:54 AM

weird stuff

voilsb · December 9, 2002, 02:01 AM

i saw the title to this thread and thought "optical camouflage ... as opposed to auditory camoflage? i don't think the japanese invented the idea of making oneself harder to see. that's what regular camouflage is for."

of course, i also thought it was referring to cloacking technology (to steal a term from star trek), and decided to post this here story about the whole process.

neat, huh?

Bahadur · December 9, 2002, 04:21 AM

Definitely something we will see more in the future...

Azrael256 · December 9, 2002, 04:43 AM

Bahadur, I think you missed the point. It's something we will see LESS OF in the future.

Ben Swenson · December 9, 2002, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Definitely something we will see more in the future...

The idea is not a new one, nor would it be effective in it's current implementation. There would be something new and interesting if they'd found a way to make it apply from all angles and dispense with the half-mirror/projector concept.

(seriously ... what good is camo'ing something if there's got to be a huge mirror at 45 degrees between the object and the viewer, and a powerful projector humming away to the side?)

Navy joe · December 9, 2002, 07:44 AM

Title should read adaptive camo and the Nips didn't invent it. Our military has tested stuff like this, but it will be very complex to every put into action. The Bond movie got the basic principle right with the car as in the cameras see what's on one side and make it project on the other side of the camo'd object. First place we'd probably see this on is surveillance A/C or drones. The atmospheric light levels are pretty constant from second to second, so if the skin was imbedded w/ thousands of tiny LED lights they could be powered to variable intensity based on what the opposite side photosensors "saw" Problem is I don't think that the LED skin would be very radar absorbent so maybe this would be limited to some helicopters, and low altitude battlefield drones. It wouldn't have to be perfect, just imagine if you could get a helicopter to blend in with the sunset and not be very visible at say like 1.5 miles. If you looked really hard you'd probably be able to pick out the rotor arc....and the exhaust flare of 2 Hellfires. Oopsie.

One commonality to consider and spend money on. If it lives and breathes or has a motor, guess what? It has a heat signature. Even a manmade object that has been unheated will heat differently than its surrounding enviroment in the sun and retain that into early night. With the right equipment even the branches you cut for camo will look different than the ones still living. Urban areas present the only options for real camoflauge since there is so much physical, audible, and thermal cover. But of course buildings make handy aiming points if someone with a 152mm thinks you're in there.

**4V50 Gary** · December 9, 2002, 10:42 AM

So, where did the Pedator hide his projector to keep Arnie from seeing him?

ahenry · December 9, 2002, 11:40 AM

I first read about this in Popular Science several years ago. Not knew by any stretch of the imagination.

Skunkabilly · December 9, 2002, 12:10 PM

Tinfoil hat.

If this stuff is implemented in the future, how will it affect our 4th Amendment rights?

**Marko Kloos** · December 9, 2002, 01:34 PM

Closed as OT...

December 9, 2002, 01:36 AM	#1
Justin Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,641	Japanese invent optical camouflage This is a link to a page that demos a development called 'optical camouflage.' Basically it looks like they've figured out a technique to make an object appear sort of invisible by projecting a background image onto it. The video clips are really interesting. http://www.star.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/proj...DIA/xv/oc.html

December 9, 2002, 07:44 AM	#7
Navy joe Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2001 Location: VA, USA Posts: 1,589	Title should read adaptive camo and the Nips didn't invent it. Our military has tested stuff like this, but it will be very complex to every put into action. The Bond movie got the basic principle right with the car as in the cameras see what's on one side and make it project on the other side of the camo'd object. First place we'd probably see this on is surveillance A/C or drones. The atmospheric light levels are pretty constant from second to second, so if the skin was imbedded w/ thousands of tiny LED lights they could be powered to variable intensity based on what the opposite side photosensors "saw" Problem is I don't think that the LED skin would be very radar absorbent so maybe this would be limited to some helicopters, and low altitude battlefield drones. It wouldn't have to be perfect, just imagine if you could get a helicopter to blend in with the sunset and not be very visible at say like 1.5 miles. If you looked really hard you'd probably be able to pick out the rotor arc....and the exhaust flare of 2 Hellfires. Oopsie. One commonality to consider and spend money on. If it lives and breathes or has a motor, guess what? It has a heat signature. Even a manmade object that has been unheated will heat differently than its surrounding enviroment in the sun and retain that into early night. With the right equipment even the branches you cut for camo will look different than the ones still living. Urban areas present the only options for real camoflauge since there is so much physical, audible, and thermal cover. But of course buildings make handy aiming points if someone with a 152mm thinks you're in there. __________________ FY47012

December 9, 2002, 10:42 AM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: California Posts: 13,263	So, where did the Pedator hide his projector to keep Arnie from seeing him? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

December 9, 2002, 12:10 PM	#10
Skunkabilly Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2001 Location: Land of stinky cabbage and potable rubbing alcohol Posts: 2,136	Tinfoil hat. If this stuff is implemented in the future, how will it affect our 4th Amendment rights? __________________ Skunky's World of Mud and Guts and Barbecue Sauce: www.skunkabilly.com "Stupid American! There's no bloody sales tax for tea in Hong Kong. Didn't you start a war over a tea tax?" -- Hong Kong tea merchant

December 9, 2002, 01:34 PM	#11
Marko Kloos Staff Lead Join Date: January 12, 2000 Location: Enfield, NH Posts: 5,471	Closed as OT... __________________ "The right to buy weapons is the right to be free." --A.E. Van Vogt, The Weapon Shops of Isher the munchkin wrangler.

December 9, 2002, 01:54 AM	#2
MitchSchaft Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2001 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,205	weird stuff

December 9, 2002, 02:01 AM	#3
voilsb Registered User Join Date: March 31, 2002 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 108	i saw the title to this thread and thought "optical camouflage ... as opposed to auditory camoflage? i don't think the japanese invented the idea of making oneself harder to see. that's what regular camouflage is for." of course, i also thought it was referring to cloacking technology (to steal a term from star trek), and decided to post this here story about the whole process. neat, huh?

December 9, 2002, 04:21 AM	#4
Bahadur Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Posts: 330	Definitely something we will see more in the future...

December 9, 2002, 04:43 AM	#5
Azrael256 Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2001 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 547	Bahadur, I think you missed the point. It's something we will see LESS OF in the future.

December 9, 2002, 11:40 AM	#9
ahenry Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,766	I first read about this in Popular Science several years ago. Not knew by any stretch of the imagination.