Clever camouflage

Drawing inspiration from the chameleon, NUS researchers have designed a special shell using a novel camouflage technique which renders sensors “invisible” in thermal and electric environments simultaneously.

The unique multifunctional camouflage shell — a world’s first — was developed by a team led by Assistant Professor Qiu Cheng-Wei from NUS Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The team spent 10 months meticulously designing the thin shell which is made of pure copper to reduce the heat and electric current emitted by the sensor. It works by mimicking the surrounding thermal and electrical fields, allowing the sensor’s shape and position to go undetected in thermal and electrical signatures. The shell also protects the sensor from harsh environments while eliminating nearby distortion, thereby enhancing its accuracy in receiving incoming signals while under cover. Current technologies typically compromise sensor performance or only work in a single physical field targeted.

As it makes use of readily available materials without complex patterning or treatment, the shell is facile to manufacture at relatively low cost, making it ideal for commercialisation. “Our camouflaging shell will open up a viable and novel avenue for advanced sensing and security systems in sensitive niches,” said Asst Prof Qiu. It shows that simplicity and sophistication can often go hand-in-hand, he added.  

Read more about the camouflage shell.
See press release.

Asst Prof Qiu (left) and Year 4 PhD student Bai Xue using an infrared camera to demonstrate how the copper shell prevents the sensor from leaving a thermal signature