New Cloaking Device Makes Objects Invisible (VIDEO)

Cloaking devices are being developed by researchers around the world. Now, scientists have taken a new step when it comes to creating a technology to hide objects from view. They've developed a new device that not only overcomes the limitations of other devices, but also uses inexpensive, readily available materials.

"There've been many high tech approaches to cloaking and the basic idea behind these is to take light and have it pass around something as if it isn't there, often using high-tech or exotic materials," said John Howell, one of the researchers, in a news release.

Many cloaking devices work only when you look at an object from straight on. While this may be a nice trick, though, it's not very applicable when it comes to hiding things in the world; if you move your viewpoint even a little, the object becomes visible. In addition, previous devices can sometimes cause the background to shift drastically, making it obvious that the cloaking device is present.

In this case, though, the researchers used a combination of four standard lenses that keep the object hidden as the viewer moves up to several degrees away from the optimal viewing position. To test this device, the researchers placed a cloaked object in front of a grid background. As they looked through the lenses and changed their viewing angle by moving from side to side, the grid shifted as if the cloaking device wasn't there.

"This cloak bends light and sends it through the center of the device, so the on-axis region cannot be blocked or cloaked," said Joseph Choi, one of the researchers.

So what could this new device be used for? It's possible that the cloaking effect could be used by surgeons to "see" through their hands to what they're operating on at the time. This same principle could be applied to trucks to allow them to see through blind spots on their vehicles.

The findings are published in the journal Optics Express.