Adaptiv is an
active camouflage technology developed by
BAE Systems AB to protect military vehicles from detection by
far infrared night vision devices, providing infrared stealth. It consists of an array of hexagonal
Peltier plates which can be rapidly heated and cooled to form any desired image, such as of the natural background or of a non-target object. Its goal is to develop
stealth ground vehicles.
Technology
In 2011, BAE Systems announced their ''Adaptiv'' infrared
military camouflage technology, likening it to "a thermal TV screen".
[ It uses about 1000 hexagonal panels to cover the sides of an armoured vehicle such as a tank or personnel carrier. ]Infrared camera
Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...
s continuously gather thermal image
Infrared thermography (IRT), thermal video and/or thermal imaging, is a process where a Thermographic camera, thermal camera captures and creates an image of an object by using infrared radiation emitted from the object in a process, which are ...
s of the vehicle's surroundings. The Peltier plate panels are rapidly heated and cooled to match either the temperature of the background, such as a forest, or one of the objects in the thermal cloaking system's "library" such as a truck, car or large rock. The system is able to gather and display thermal images while the vehicle is moving. The result is to " cloak" the vehicle from detection by heat-detecting night vision devices ( thermographic camera systems).[
For ]crypsis
In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an animal or a plant to avoid observation or detection by other animals. It may be a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation. Methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle and ...
, the panels can display an infrared image of the vehicle's background; this can be updated as the vehicle moves. For mimesis
Mimesis (; grc, μίμησις, ''mīmēsis'') is a term used in literary criticism and philosophy that carries a wide range of meanings, including ''imitatio'', imitation, nonsensuous similarity, receptivity, representation, mimicry, the act ...
, an image of a chosen object, such as a car, can be retrieved from ''Adaptiv's'' library and superimposed on the background. The illustration shows ''Adaptiv'' mimicking a four wheel drive car, using part of the panel, while the rest of the panel is cryptic, imitating the natural background.[ They are robust, contributing to the ]armour
Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...
of the vehicle that carries them.[ The system allows its operator to "grab" a thermal image from a vehicle or other object for display.]Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
, initially for Combat Vehicle 90 infantry fighting vehicle
An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct-fire support. The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forc ...
s.[ The company has developed a lighter version which has been tested on helicopters.][ A somewhat similar system was prototyped to an early stage by the Israeli company Eltics in 2010.]
References
External links
BAE Systems
YouTube: ''Adaptiv''
{{camouflage
Military technology
Military camouflage