Using electrochromatism

Mar 24, 2007 12:22 GMT  ·  By

The invisible soldier is the dream of any troop commander.

But till an invisibility cloak will be created, a science project realized by two school students could very well become an important defense strategy employed by soldiers.

Using the so-called electrochromism, the students have made a soldier's uniform that can hide the soldier into any surrounding. This achievement was done by employing a material that can change colors.

This is another of the many projects by secondary and JC students under the Young Defense Scientists Program (YDSP) initiated by the Defense Science Technology Agency and DSO National Laboratories in Singapore, which has been functioning successfully for the last 15 years.

In 2007, a new scholarship has been created so that students can come up with even more ideas. "We were introduced to many aspects of defense such as camouflage, survivability of the soldier in the desert or in the battlefield - carrying a power pack; how to generate electricity for the soldier on the move. These are examples of new technologies that we have learned for the soldier", said Foo Ming Qing, student at Raffles Junior College.

Like Ming Qing, about 200 students in this program were involved in research and project work that use modern technology over the past year.

The two agencies intend to create a steady pool of defense scientists who could ensure Singapore's technical edge in defense and security, especially given the country's limited resources. "In defense, we are harnessing infocomm technologies, advance sensors, artificial intelligence, robotics and precision weapons to enable us to transform the SAF into an integrated and networked fighting force, capable of seeing first, understanding better, deciding faster and engaging more effectively", said Teo Chee Hean, Defense Minister.

30 students received the newly-launched YDSP scholarship valued at S$1,000 each.