Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Octopuses Show Scientists How To Hide Machines in Plain Sight (axios.com)

Posted by msmash on from the how-to-train-your-dragon dept.

If you want to learn the art of camouflage look no further than octopuses. Just watch this famous video that shows a diver slowly swimming up to a clump of rock and seaweed, only for part of that clump to turn white, open its eye, and jet away, squirting ink behind it. Materials scientists and engineers have fallen under the octopuses' spell. From a report: Scientists have engineered a material that can transform from a 2D sheet to a 3D shape, adjusting its texture to blend in with its surroundings, per a new study published today in Science. They mimicked the abilities of an octopus, which can change both shape and color to camouflage. This is a first step toward developing soft robots that can hide in plain sight, robotics expert Cecilia Laschi writes of the research. Robots that can camouflage may one day be used in natural environments to study animals more closely than ever before or in military operations to avoid detection, she writes.

8 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. I believe the correct terminology is... by h33t+l4x0r · · Score: 3, Funny

    Octopussies.

  2. Military applications by tinkerton · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's always the military applications because that's where the money is. What was it again for US? 700 bn + 130 bn or so for ongoing wars. With a bunch of obfuscated and indirect costs on top.

    1. Re:Military applications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yep, "defense" spending. Boggles the mind that a significant portion of Americans accepts military spending, but balks about providing healthcare to all its citizens. You put that in perspective, if the $700 billion figure is correct, as today it has been reported that Trump is saving $7 billion (1% of the military budget) by cutting healthcare subsidies which affects millions of lower income Americans. Of course, it probably ends up costing more in lost productivity for people who are ill and can not afford medical services.

    2. Re:Military applications by Gilgaron · · Score: 4, Insightful

      For better or for worse, the best jobs some of his supporters are likely able to get would be found by joining the military. It has become a right-friendly make-work program.

  3. Camouflage by Obfiscator · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Anyone else notice how the octopus in the video was the only part of the clump of seaweed not swaying in the current? Guess they have to work on imitating that next.

    --
    "Nothing shocks me. I'm a scientist." -Indiana Jones
  4. Re:Are they really octopuses? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    One would think they prefer to be known collectively as octopi.

    WRONG

    Usage

    The standard plural in English of octopus is octopuses. However, the word octopus comes from Greek and the Greek plural form octopodes is still occasionally used. The plural form octopi, formed according to rules for some Latin plurals, is incorrect

  5. Re:Are they really octopuses? by GrumpySteen · · Score: 3, Informative

    One would think a pedant would be aware that the word octopus originates from Greek and wouldn't use Latin pluralization rules on it.

    https://www.merriam-webster.co...

    But who am I kidding? Pedants are rarely aware of anything other than their desire to make themselves feel smart by correcting others, even when they're wrong to do so.

  6. Re:Video is 'augemented' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Uh-oh. Yes octopuses can change their skin texture using muscles under the skin.