Nov 2 2007The British Develop An 'Invisible' Tank
The British have allegedly developed an 'invisible' tank that will be ready for service by 2012. Basically the technology "uses cameras and projectors to beam images of the surrounding landscape onto a tank." While I can understand that it will probably be better than paint, I get the feeling it will only look 'invisible' if you're looking at it from the exact perfect angle. And obviously the picture above isn't real. The man behind the dream is the Ministry of Defense's Professor Sir John Pendry, who said the only real drawback was the reliability of the cameras and projectors. He then added "The next stage is to make the tank invisible without them - which is intricate and complicated, but possible." Proving beyond shadow of a doubt that the whole project is indeed run by a crackpot.
Army tests James Bond style tank that is 'invisible' [dailymail]
thanks to David, the man James Bond was modeled after, for the tip
Reader Comments
1. Fredex - November 2, 2007 11:04 AM
Various different organisations have been working on things like this for ages. The idea is sound and does work in practise, the limiting factor is the refresh rates on the camera and screens. The vehicle can be made near enough invisible when its not moving, or moving slowly though. With the increasing quality of the equipment such a project should easily be feasible within a few years.
2. J.Rai - November 2, 2007 11:16 AM
It also seems to me like that's only for enemies using the naked eye or binoculars to spot them. Any infrared or night vision viewer would still see the thing lit up like a lightbulb, wouldn't it?
3. J.M.F. - November 2, 2007 11:26 AM
Yeah, the infrared and night vision would pick it up no trouble.
One big problem about this is that when a tank moves it creates a lot of dust and noise, so anyone looking in that direction would be wondering why the heck does they see a cloud of dust but nothing causing it.
4. Doogie Howser - November 2, 2007 11:59 AM
maybe it's a Tasmanian Devil?
5. Tap - November 2, 2007 1:15 PM
And people called the Aston Martin the "Die Another Day" science fiction! Bah, I say!
6. blpressure - November 2, 2007 2:21 PM
I've heard of experiments they've tried without cameras and projectors. It somehow bends light from one side around the object and out from the other side as if it had passed right through. How they bend light without using black holes I don't know but I heard they tried it.
7. Sawbaws - November 2, 2007 2:50 PM
I can see the UK MOD press release in 2010 going something like this. " We have spent 12 zillion developing 10 invisable tanks with only 1 drawback..... problem is no one can remember where we parked them"
8. tmhs - November 2, 2007 3:20 PM
I don't think this is a good idea at all. Maybe for infantry but not for tanks.
9. Tenchi059 - November 3, 2007 1:52 PM
@ #7 LOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
10. guate6 - November 3, 2007 6:34 PM
I promise I'm not being pessimistic when I say that it'll never work. The laws of physics can prove me right. That is all...oh and well said #7
11. mario - November 4, 2007 8:08 AM
One big problem about this is that when a tank moves it creates a lot of dust and noise, so anyone looking in that direction would be wondering why the heck does they see a cloud of dust but nothing causing it.
12. poop - November 4, 2007 9:51 AM
FAIL!
13. gelgash - January 13, 2008 6:32 PM
you are aware that there is material out there that can, in fact, redirect, some light waves. the trick rigt now is getting one that works with visible light.
14. john - September 3, 2008 10:58 PM
yes its rubbish to use this on a tank but you are missing some of the other uses of such a thing. Imagine a brigade of tanks that has moved in cover of night or in dead spots in enemy satellite coverage and wants to stay hidden from UAVS and SATS when they are positioned turn them off let the dust settle no major heat signatures and camoflauged to the naked eye or over head satelites and UAVS.
15. marrilliondillion - December 21, 2008 5:11 AM
jolly good! this`ll give the damn hun what for! and I see it has a giant flamethrower as a cannon, oh, super!
16. focke wulf 190 - December 21, 2008 5:14 AM
the camera and projector concept might work for camoflaging an object to make it more difficult to spot from the air or in a sat photo. but the second it moved the illusion would shatter. no matter how good the cameras refresh rate is it wouldnt get past a trained observer.