Active camouflage: Difference between revisions
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Arbiter [[Ripa 'Moramee]] was equipped with an active camouflage generator capable of generating a near-perfect cloaking field indefinitely. Arbiter [[Thel 'Vadam]] was also equipped with an active camouflage generator, but the device was capable only of providing a cloak for a few seconds, and although 'Vadam was equipped with personal shielding, his shields were relatively weak for an individual of such high rank, equivalent to those of a [[Sangheili Minor]]. | Arbiter [[Ripa 'Moramee]] was equipped with an active camouflage generator capable of generating a near-perfect cloaking field indefinitely. Arbiter [[Thel 'Vadam]] was also equipped with an active camouflage generator, but the device was capable only of providing a cloak for a few seconds, and although 'Vadam was equipped with personal shielding, his shields were relatively weak for an individual of such high rank, equivalent to those of a [[Sangheili Minor]]. | ||
Aircraft or ships can also be equipped with active camouflage systems, including the [[Type-52 Phantom]] that has its own active camouflage generators on board for various stealth missions,<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref> and the [[Shroud]] used by the [[Banished]] to cloak the advance of their armies.<ref name="HW2">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]'''</ref> Larger vessels such as [[Covenant supercarrier|supercarriers]], or entire armies, can be effectively hidden from both plain sight and sensors by using external stealth systems such as [[stealth pylon]]s and [[Cloaking Generator]]s. | Aircraft or ships can also be equipped with active camouflage systems, including the [[Type-52 Phantom]] that has its own active camouflage generators on board for various stealth missions,<ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref> and the [[Shroud]] used by the [[Banished]] to cloak the advance of their armies.<ref name="HW2">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]'''</ref> Larger vessels such as [[Covenant supercarrier|supercarriers]], or entire armies, can be effectively hidden from both plain sight and sensors by using external stealth systems such as [[stealth pylon]]s and [[Cloaking Generator]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|ReferenceA}}{{Ref/Reuse|HW2}} | ||
For personnel not equipped with built-in active camouflage, it can be provided by a variety of devices. Typically, the energy used to provide the effect is suspended inside a small, transparent pyramidal container, or a larger spherical force-field. Personnel can use the light-bending energy by coming into physical contact with the container or force-field, which will cause it to break and release its contents. Upon release, the energy envelops the wearer and bends light around their skin; armor or [[energy shielding]], conforming to their form and rendering them almost invisible. After a short period of time, the energy will gradually dissipate and wear off, slowly revealing its user. The active camouflage provided by these devices lasts for ten seconds, and only prevents visual detection; those using active camouflage can be observed by other means, including motion tracking, noise, and environmental disturbances such as footprints on soft terrain. | For personnel not equipped with built-in active camouflage, it can be provided by a variety of devices. Typically, the energy used to provide the effect is suspended inside a small, transparent pyramidal container, or a larger spherical force-field. Personnel can use the light-bending energy by coming into physical contact with the container or force-field, which will cause it to break and release its contents. Upon release, the energy envelops the wearer and bends light around their skin; armor or [[energy shielding]], conforming to their form and rendering them almost invisible. After a short period of time, the energy will gradually dissipate and wear off, slowly revealing its user. The active camouflage provided by these devices lasts for ten seconds, and only prevents visual detection; those using active camouflage can be observed by other means, including motion tracking, noise, and environmental disturbances such as footprints on soft terrain. | ||
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The shielding provided by Covenant active camo can be disrupted if projectiles pass through it; such a disruption weakens the invisibility effect and temporarily reveals the wearer. The [[power-up]] can be disrupted if the wearer fires shots or if the wearer is hit. It also progressively worsens: the longer the wearer fires (or is hit), the more visible they become. Once the disruptions end, however, the wearer quickly regains their invisibility. | The shielding provided by Covenant active camo can be disrupted if projectiles pass through it; such a disruption weakens the invisibility effect and temporarily reveals the wearer. The [[power-up]] can be disrupted if the wearer fires shots or if the wearer is hit. It also progressively worsens: the longer the wearer fires (or is hit), the more visible they become. Once the disruptions end, however, the wearer quickly regains their invisibility. | ||
Talcum powder and other atmospheric particles can disrupt the systems, causing the technology to overload and fail.<ref name="firststrike">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]'''</ref> The device also generates a considerable amount of heat, causing its user to be clearly visible on human thermal goggles and some variations of the [[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]'''</ref> The humans of [[Alpha Base (Installation 04)|Alpha Base]] on [[Installation 04]] used this advantage when their base was infiltrated by stealth Elites, equipping their [[fireteam]]s with infrared goggles allowing them to easily see the attackers. In addition, [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]] [[William-043]] and [[Kelly-087]] employed talcum powder in order to overload the camouflage on [[Reach]] in order to find them. | Talcum powder and other atmospheric particles can disrupt the systems, causing the technology to overload and fail.<ref name="firststrike">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]'''</ref> The device also generates a considerable amount of heat, causing its user to be clearly visible on human thermal goggles and some variations of the [[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]'''</ref> The humans of [[Alpha Base (Installation 04)|Alpha Base]] on [[Installation 04]] used this advantage when their base was infiltrated by stealth Elites, equipping their [[fireteam]]s with infrared goggles allowing them to easily see the attackers. In addition, [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]] [[William-043]] and [[Kelly-087]] employed talcum powder in order to overload the camouflage on [[Reach]] in order to find them.{{Ref/Reuse|firststrike}} [[Atriox]] was able to detect the use of active camouflage through smell.{{Ref/Reuse|HP}} However, it is possible he was just smelling the users themselves rather than the cloaking field, and was calling them out for its use. | ||
During the [[Requiem Campaign]], active camouflage was used to shield the [[seven]] [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]s smuggled aboard the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} from detection by the ship's AI [[Roland]]. After [[Fireteam Crimson]] took out a Sangheili holding a cloaking remote, Roland realized this tactic. By tracking the energy signature from the cloaking generator, Roland was able to locate the warheads in the Engine Room and direct Crimson where to go to disarm them before they could be used to destroy the ''Infinity''. Unlike conventional active camouflage, this type shielded the warheads from sensors but they could be physically seen by nearby persons without any issue.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[S1/Invasion/Engine of Destruction|S107 ''Invasion'', ''Engine of Destruction'']]</ref> Later, in the [[Warrens]], the Covenant hooked up active camouflage to their shield generators to prevent the human forces from finding and destroying them. Spartan [[Jared Miller]] was eventually able to identify the Sangheili who controlled the active camouflage and after Crimson took him out, the active camouflage dropped, revealing the generators.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[Expendable/Lancer|S108 ''Lancer'']]</ref> | During the [[Requiem Campaign]], active camouflage was used to shield the [[seven]] [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]s smuggled aboard the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} from detection by the ship's AI [[Roland]]. After [[Fireteam Crimson]] took out a Sangheili holding a cloaking remote, Roland realized this tactic. By tracking the energy signature from the cloaking generator, Roland was able to locate the warheads in the Engine Room and direct Crimson where to go to disarm them before they could be used to destroy the ''Infinity''. Unlike conventional active camouflage, this type shielded the warheads from sensors but they could be physically seen by nearby persons without any issue.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[S1/Invasion/Engine of Destruction|S107 ''Invasion'', ''Engine of Destruction'']]</ref> Later, in the [[Warrens]], the Covenant hooked up active camouflage to their shield generators to prevent the human forces from finding and destroying them. Spartan [[Jared Miller]] was eventually able to identify the Sangheili who controlled the active camouflage and after Crimson took him out, the active camouflage dropped, revealing the generators.<ref>'''Spartan Ops''', [[Expendable/Lancer|S108 ''Lancer'']]</ref> | ||
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==UNSC active camouflage== | ==UNSC active camouflage== | ||
[[File:ONIPRO 01.png|thumb|250px|''[[ONI PRO-49776]]'' disengaging its advanced cloaking field, an outlier in UNSC camouflaging technology during the [[Covenant War]].]] | [[File:ONIPRO 01.png|thumb|250px|''[[ONI PRO-49776]]'' disengaging its advanced cloaking field, an outlier in UNSC camouflaging technology during the [[Covenant War]].]] | ||
The UNSC has developed several varieties of active-camouflage technology. These do not utilize the same light-bending energy as Covenant active camouflage and are generally less effective. The most common form of human active camouflage technology operates on a different principle than the Covenant counterpart, using [[photoreactive panel]]s to impersonate the surrounding environment like a chameleon. A device known as the [[camouflage cloak]] can hide the wearer's infrared signature, beside serving as a form of camouflage. | The UNSC has developed several varieties of active-camouflage technology. These do not utilize the same light-bending energy as Covenant active camouflage and are generally less effective. The most common form of human active camouflage technology operates on a different principle than the Covenant counterpart, using [[photoreactive panel]]s to impersonate the surrounding environment like a chameleon. A device known as the [[camouflage cloak]] can hide the wearer's infrared signature, beside serving as a form of camouflage.{{Ref/Reuse|goo}} | ||
[[File:Headhunters Roland camo.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Roland-B210]] with his camouflage activated.]] | [[File:Headhunters Roland camo.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Roland-B210]] with his camouflage activated.]] | ||
The [[Semi-Powered Infiltration armor]] used by the [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan-IIIs]] utilizes photo-reactive panels to conceal the wearer's infrared signature and to blend in with the surrounding environment. When combined with their natural talent and training for stealth, it can be a very effective tool. Some [[Headhunters]] used a prototype camouflage almost identical to the Covenant version, rendering them almost invisible, except that it only lasted 3–5 minutes and other systems have their power drained while it recharged. This feature saw very limited use in field tests by [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[Headhunters]]''</ref> | The [[Semi-Powered Infiltration armor]] used by the [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan-IIIs]] utilizes photo-reactive panels to conceal the wearer's infrared signature and to blend in with the surrounding environment. When combined with their natural talent and training for stealth, it can be a very effective tool. Some [[Headhunters]] used a prototype camouflage almost identical to the Covenant version, rendering them almost invisible, except that it only lasted 3–5 minutes and other systems have their power drained while it recharged. This feature saw very limited use in field tests by [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[Headhunters]]''</ref> | ||
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A common human active camouflage device, copied from similar Covenant technology, comes in the form of a "plug" which attaches to a socket located on the lower back of compatible armor. The non-integral nature of the device allows it to be added or removed at will for improved operational flexibility. The device provides a conditionally effective cloak; as long as the user remains still or moves slowly, the camouflage will be highly efficient, providing near-total invisibility for minimal energy loss. However, if the user moves more quickly, the camouflage will only provide rudimentary coverage and drain its energy very rapidly. Firing a weapon will also disrupt the camouflage and reveal the user. Furthermore, external sounds will be highly muffled to the user while this camouflage is in use, and if the user is equipped with motion tracking equipment, the detection capability of the motion tracker will be severely compromised, jamming the display with "ghost" targets.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]'''</ref> | A common human active camouflage device, copied from similar Covenant technology, comes in the form of a "plug" which attaches to a socket located on the lower back of compatible armor. The non-integral nature of the device allows it to be added or removed at will for improved operational flexibility. The device provides a conditionally effective cloak; as long as the user remains still or moves slowly, the camouflage will be highly efficient, providing near-total invisibility for minimal energy loss. However, if the user moves more quickly, the camouflage will only provide rudimentary coverage and drain its energy very rapidly. Firing a weapon will also disrupt the camouflage and reveal the user. Furthermore, external sounds will be highly muffled to the user while this camouflage is in use, and if the user is equipped with motion tracking equipment, the detection capability of the motion tracker will be severely compromised, jamming the display with "ghost" targets.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]'''</ref> | ||
Much like the SPI armor, UNSC [[prowler]]s use [[texture buffer]]s or "active camouflage skin" in conjunction with [[stealth ablative coating]]s to conceal themselves from view in addition to masking their heat and radar signatures. | Much like the SPI armor, UNSC [[prowler]]s use [[texture buffer]]s or "active camouflage skin" in conjunction with [[stealth ablative coating]]s to conceal themselves from view in addition to masking their heat and radar signatures.{{Ref/Reuse|goo}} This camouflage is not perfect, however, and cannot keep up with a constantly changing background such as a gas giant's atmosphere.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 477''</ref> However, more advanced stealth ships were developed, such as ''[[ONI PRO-49776]]'' using a form of cloak "bubble" similar to the light-bending energy fields used by the Covenant. This technology has not been observed in widespread use.<ref>'''[[Halo Legends]]''', ''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''</ref> | ||
The [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2]]] system is capable of incorporating Covenant [[Type-3 active camouflage|T-3 Refraction Dissonance Modifier/Camouflage]] modules for stealth.<ref name="Waypoint">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/Halo4Guide '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Halo 4 Interactive Guide'']</ref> | The [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN2]]] system is capable of incorporating Covenant [[Type-3 active camouflage|T-3 Refraction Dissonance Modifier/Camouflage]] modules for stealth.<ref name="Waypoint">[http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/Halo4Guide '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''Halo 4 Interactive Guide'']</ref> | ||
