NationStates Jolt Archive

OLEDs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED) are basically a very thin sort of display that isn't too difficult to produce, and is easy to change and maintain the image on due to impressive power efficiency.

I propose that this material could be used to coat military units and combined with technology allowing them to continually take pictures of the scenery around them, allowing more or less visual invisibility-- within limits.


Advantages
-OLEDs are CHEAP
-Low power consumption means they can be run off a normal vehicle engine, no special power sources needed
-Since power doesn't need to be used to maintain the image, a vehicle that is positioned against the same background for a significant period of time will be able to easily maintain it's field
-Since it's cheap, it's also easy to replace

Disadvantages
-Since it's just a thin layer of stuff, it CAN be damaged rather easily, unfortunately.
-It does nothing to hide your IR or radar signature (or hide you from LIDAR)
-Obviously, it won't be effective on something that's moving, for example a tank's treads and running gear couldn't have this stuff applied to them (you could cover them completely with skirts, I suppose)
-You'll need to set up a bunch of cameras on your vehicles to take the pictures needed


Basically, this stuff makes vehicles/aircraft (or soldiers using a sheet/uniforms made out of it) much more difficult to see visually, but not completely invisible by any means.

OOC:I came up with this same idea like a week ago, and am currently fielding it on some stuff.

OOC: Right. I just posted this since I'll be using it in an RP soon, and can link people to this thread if they go "OMG TEH FT GODMODE!!!1111!!!!111!!!one!111!1!shift+1!" :p

OOC:Mind if I link to this thread if people freak out on me when I use the stuff?

OOC: Sure, no problem :)

OLEDs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED) are basically a very thin sort of display that isn't too difficult to produce, and is easy to change and maintain the image on due to impressive power efficiency.

I propose that this material could be used to coat military units and combined with technology allowing them to continually take pictures of the scenery around them, allowing more or less visual invisibility-- within limits.


Advantages
-OLEDs are CHEAP
-Low power consumption means they can be run off a normal vehicle engine, no special power sources needed
-Since power doesn't need to be used to maintain the image, a vehicle that is positioned against the same background for a significant period of time will be able to easily maintain it's field
-Since it's cheap, it's also easy to replace

Disadvantages
-Since it's just a thin layer of stuff, it CAN be damaged rather easily, unfortunately.
-It does nothing to hide your IR or radar signature (or hide you from LIDAR)
-Obviously, it won't be effective on something that's moving, for example a tank's treads and running gear couldn't have this stuff applied to them (you could cover them completely with skirts, I suppose)
-You'll need to set up a bunch of cameras on your vehicles to take the pictures needed


Basically, this stuff makes vehicles/aircraft (or soldiers using a sheet/uniforms made out of it) much more difficult to see visually, but not completely invisible by any means.

It's not really needed on soliders though, unless you use it on base camps. Soliders by their very nature are on the move, thus rendering this system useless.

Remindes me of that system they were devloping years ago where little cameras took pictures constatly and little projectors projected the image on the other side, making the object fairly invisible.
My nation has been devloping a camoflauge net of this type of stuff, and might be using it in the future. Mostly to hide VTOL Marine aircraft in forward, dirt, airfeilds.
Mind if I link here if I need to?

OOC: is called Active camoflage incase you didnt know that.

It's not really needed on soliders though, unless you use it on base camps. Soliders by their very nature are on the move, thus rendering this system useless.

It can work while something is moving, and would work better on foot soldiers than on a vehicles, since foot soldiers do not do things like kick up big clouds of dust while moving. :)

However I wouldn't be equipping most individual soldiers with this-- rather, they'd get a big sheet that could be spread over a foxhole or a small outpost or what not, probably assign 1-2 sheets of the stuff per squad. Special forces units would get uniforms coated with the stuff, of course.

I certainly wouldn't use it in an RP i do, but i'm just some n00b with no clout.

Don't underrate yourself. This stuff is so cheap to produce that even newbie nations can afford it if they have the appropriate technological base.

What I mean is, I'm a bit afraid of people using this kind of camouflage to say 'o i just walk past ur entire army and kill ur president' stuff. It's certainly great camoflage though, at longer ranges. At short ranges, though, an observant person can see the outline and distortions inherent with the camera system.

I came across this at a chemistry conference earlier this year. They were talking about using it as a rollup computer screen. They had an image of a pen that could unroll a screen from the lid, it had an operating system in it as well.

I would use this tech for maps and stuff, as well as portable computers (the RWC Black Steel technology is small enough). I know that the material it is made from is very easily damaged, so a lot of replacements would be needed if you are using it on armoured vehicles. The material would be quite bulky in sheets (as it does not fold, it has to be rolled up), so you need to factor in the logistics. I think it would be better suited for use in static places, to camoflage defensive positions or command centres.

The material is very sensitive to water as well, and will not function unless in flat sheets. This is due to how the material works. It needs to have a cathode and anode at either end, and straight lines in between (for the electrons to move down). Since electrons travel really slowly, then any folds will disrupt their flow and cause the OLED to stop working. It is possible to clothe your soldiers with it, but if they make any sudden movements, or fold any clothing they will screw the entire suit.