Those British Ministry of Defence chaps and QinetiQ are playing with James Bond technology again: they've confirmed that in recent trials they've made an entire tank disappear... oh so much more impressive than a tiny Aston Martin, hey 007?! More invisibility after the jump......
The system uses a specialist reflective coating on the tank, and a set of cameras and projectors to make the tank's skin match the view behind the vehicle and allowing it to be overlooked by the casual eye. So less invisible, and more like a moving camouflage... but still nifty!
Apparently it could be in real battlefield technology in 5 years, according to invisibility expert Professor Sir John Pendry, and dipping further into science-fiction-become-fact they're also working on a jacket for troops that uses the same idea. Predator, anyone?
As Bond himself found out though, your tire marks and noise can still give you away ... and a 62-tonne Challenger 2 makes quite an impact as it rolls across the countryside! Then there's infra-red and radar to think about... where's Q when you need him?
(allheadlinenews.com, image: mine!)
UPDATE FOR ADDY/JESUS: I was just a bit pleased to have popped this online before both Engadget and Giz! Hehe... my old employers certainly have some good toys.
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