A cloaking device is essentially a stealth technology that can cause objects, such as spaceships or individuals, to be partially or wholly invisible to parts of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. Developments in scientific research show that real-world cloaking devices can obscure objects from at least one wavelength of EM emissions. Scientists already use artificial materials called metamaterials to bend light around an object. Continue reading for more.
3. Adaptiv
BAE Systems, a British defense company, recently unveiled an “invisibility cloak” that can effectively hide vehicles from view in the infra-red spectrum. It’s called Adaptiv, and uses a matrix of hexagonal “pixels” that can change their temperature very rapidly. There are also on-board cameras designed to sweep the area to pick up the background scenery and display that infra-red signature on the vehicle.
2. Projection
Japanese researchers have invented a real-life invisibility cloak. To accomplish this, retro-reflective projection technology was employed, using a computer, a video camera and projector to shine background images onto the front of a subject wearing specialized clothing, creating the illusion of invisibility.
1. Underwater
Researchers at UT Dallas have utilized the same principle behind a mirage to create a real-life invisibility cloak – a carbon nanotube plate completely disappears at the push of a button. Heating up the water immediately around the nano plate causes rays of light to bend away from the material, preventing a reflecting image from reaching an eyeball. Thus the warped rays seemingly make the object invisible.
