Solar Energy News  
MILTECH
This wearable device camouflages its wearer no matter the weather
by Staff Writers
San Diego CA (SPX) Mar 04, 2020

The device, which is at the proof-of-concept stage, has a surface that quickly cools down or heats up to match ambient temperatures, camouflaging the wearer's body heat. The surface can go from 10 to 38 degrees Celsius (50 to 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in less than a minute. Meanwhile, the inside remains at the same temperature as human skin, making it comfortable for the wearer. The wireless device can be embedded into fabric, such as an armband. A more advanced version could be worn as a jacket. See video here.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego developed a wearable technology that can hide its wearer from heat-detecting sensors such as night vision goggles, even when the ambient temperature changes - a feat that current state of the art technology cannot match. The technology can adapt to temperature changes in just a few minutes, while keeping the wearer comfortable.

The device, which is at the proof-of-concept stage, has a surface that quickly cools down or heats up to match ambient temperatures, camouflaging the wearer's body heat. The surface can go from 10 to 38 degrees Celsius (50 to 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in less than a minute.

Meanwhile, the inside remains at the same temperature as human skin, making it comfortable for the wearer. The wireless device can be embedded into fabric, such as an armband. A more advanced version could be worn as a jacket.

To build the device, the team turned to a phase-changing material that's similar to wax but with more complex properties. The melting point of the material is 30 degrees Celsius (roughly 86 degrees F), the same temperature as the surface temperature of human skin.

If the temperature on the outside of the device is higher than that, the material will melt and stabilize, insulating the wearer; if colder, it will slowly solidify, still acting as an insulating layer.

The team, led by UC San Diego mechanical and aerospace engineering professor Renkun Chen, detailed their work in a recent issue of the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

At the technology's core are materials that can create heating or cooling effects when the ambient temperature changes, and flexible electronics that can be embedded into clothing. The outside layer of the device is driven by a technology that Chen and colleagues detailed in a paper in Science Advances in May 2019.

It is made of thermoelectric alloys - materials that use electricity to create a temperature difference - sandwiched between stretchy elastomer sheets. It is powered by a battery and controlled by a wireless circuit board. The device physically cools or heats to a temperature that the wearer chooses.

Current state of the art heat camouflage technology consists of a surface coating that changes how much heat clothing emits at the surface. The coating absorbs the heat from the wearer's body and reflects only enough energy to match the ambient temperature. However, the coating only works at a predetermined temperature. If the ambient temperature rises or falls, it no longer works.

The researchers' biggest challenge now is to scale up the technology. Their goal is to create a jacket with the technology built-in, but under current conditions, the garment would weigh 2 kilograms (about 4.5 lbs.), be about 5 millimeters thick and only function for one hour. The team will be looking to find lighter, thinner materials so the garment could weigh two or three times less.

Research Report: "An Adaptive and Wearable Thermal Camouflage Device"


Related Links
University Of California - San Diego
The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


MILTECH
Raytheon nets $15M to support small diameter bomb II
Washington DC (UPI) Feb 27, 2020Washington DC (UPI) Feb 27, 2020
Raytheon has been awarded a $15 million increase to a previous contract for Small Diameter Bomb II technical support, increasing the total value of the contract to $115 million, the Department of Defense said. The CGU-53 StormBreaker, also known as the Small Diameter Bomb II, is an air-launched, precision-glide bomb that can can use GPS/INS to guide itself into the general vicinity of a moving target during the initial search phase. It entered into operational testing in 2018. The Air Fo ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

MILTECH
Using open-source software to analyze economics of biofuels, bioproducts

Can palm-oil biodiesel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Novel photocatalytic method converts biopolyols and sugars into methanol and syngas

New method converts carbon dioxide to methane at low temperatures

MILTECH
Robots autonomously navigate underground in DARPA challenge

Pentagon adopts 'ethical principles' for artificial intelligence use

Pentagon adopts ethics for artificial intelligence use

EU seeks 'responsible' AI to dispel Big Brother fears

MILTECH
Opportunity blows for offshore wind in China

Alphabet cuts cord on power-generating kite business

Iberdrola will build its next wind farm in Spain with the most powerful wind turbine

UK looks to offshore wind for green energy transition

MILTECH
Alphabet's Waymo raises $2.25 bn to rev up autonomous projects

Luxembourg becomes first country with free public transport

VW ditches natural gas to focus on e-cars

Plastic shields protect China's ride-hailing drivers against virus

MILTECH
Simple self-charging battery offers power solutions for devices

Isotope movement holds key to the power of fusion reactions

Design of the W7-X fusion device enables it to overcome obstacles

Generating electricity 'out of thin air'

MILTECH
Study analyzes impact of switch from nuclear power to coal, suggests directions for policy

GE Hitachi Progresses Vendor Design Review in Canada for BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor

Framatome opens new research and operations center and expands Intercontrole in Cadarache, France

VTT develops a Small Modular Reactor for district heating

MILTECH
Coronavirus outbreak slashes China carbon emissions: study

Extreme weather to overload urban power grids, study shows

EU chief pleads to save green deal in budget holed by Brexit

Carbon emissions from energy 'flat' in 2019: IEA

MILTECH
Bushfires burned a fifth of Australia's forest: study

Hurricanes benefit mangroves in Florida's Everglades, study finds

Satellite image data reveals rapid decline of China's intertidal wetlands

Hungary's Orban vows to plant 10 trees for every newborn









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.