Murphy's Law: Fractal Camo For Ships and Planes

Archives

March 30,2008: Aircraft, armored vehicles, and even ships are now using the new "fractal" camouflage patterns that proven so popular, and useful for ground troops. Also called "digital camouflage", this technique uses "pixels" (little square or round spots of color, like you will find on your computer monitor if you look very closely), instead of just splotches of different colors. Naturally, this was called "digital camouflage" when it was first invented three decades ago. This pattern proved considerably more effective at hiding troops than older methods. For example, in tests, it was found that soldiers wearing digital pattern uniforms were 50 percent more likely to escape detection by other troops. What made the digital pattern work was the way the human brain processed information. The small "pixels" of color on the cloth makes the human brain see vegetation and terrain, not people. One could provide a more technical explanation, but the "brain processing" one pretty much says it all.

Many nations are trying digital patterns on vehicles (aircraft, tanks and ships) in the belief that the same "visual disruption" effect will be present. There has not been a lot of research in this area yet, but that is not stopping a lot of vehicles adopting the new paint scheme.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close