Researchers have created an artificial chameleon skin. 

A team from Seoul National University in Korea has developed a chameleon-inspired soft robot that can change colour in real time to match its background.

The technology could be used for next-generation artificial camouflage technology.

Artificial camouflage is based on imitating the natural camouflage present in the living environment and has been observed in a number of species, such as the chameleon. 

A prerequisite for artificial camouflage devices is the ability to convey a wide range of colouration that can be controlled and changed on demand. 

However, this has been difficult to achieve due to the complexity of the system requirements and the high spatial frequencies needed for the device to mimic the living environment.

Seung Hwan Ko and colleagues have applied a new strategy to the development of artificial camouflage using integrated thermochromic liquid crystal layers with vertically-stacked, patterned silver nanowire networks. 

Together with colour sensors and feedback control systems, the authors fabricated the skin and applied it to a soft-bodied robot. 

The robot can detect the local background colour and is able to change and transition its colour to match its surroundings in real time.

Further research is needed to develop efficient recognition and expression of high-resolution surface texture, which the authors suggest may be attainable with advances in signal processing and data-driven science.

A demonstration can be seen in the videos below, while more details can be found in this research paper.