Tech hides objects from infrared cameras

Washington, June 23: A team of researchers has come up with a technology that can hide hot objects from infrared scanners.

According to the University of Wisconsin study, hiding from detectors, that could help drones find their targets even in the dead of night or through heavy fog, will become much easier, thanks to a new cloaking material that renders objects — and people — practically invisible.

“What we have shown is an ultrathin stealth ‘ sheet.’ Right now, what people have is much heavier metal armour or thermal blankets,” said Hongrui Jiang.

Warm objects like human bodies or tank engines emit heat as infrared light. The new stealth sheet offered substantial improvements over other heat- masking technologies.

"It's a matter of the weight, the cost and ease of use," said Jiang.

Less than one millimetre thick, the sheet absorbed approximately 94 percent of the infrared light it encounters. Trapping so much light means that warm objects beneath the cloaking material become almost completely invisible to infrared detectors.

Importantly, the stealth material could strongly absorb light in the so- called midand long- wavelength infrared range, the type of light emitted by objects at approximately human body temperature.

By incorporating eheating elements into the stealth sheet, the researchers had also created a high- tech disguise for tricking infrared cameras.

“You can deceive an infrared detector by presenting a false heat signature,” said Jiang.