Motion camouflage missiles and gaming
I read about this in the New Scientist lately. Researchers have confirmed that hoverflies and dragonflies maintain their motion so that they are in a fixed line between a point on the landscape and their prey. In this way they show no noticeable movement to their prey and confuse them into thinking that they're stationary. Subsequent research has also shown that humans fall for the same trick. See some more info on this here.
The scientists involved tested the idea by comparing reactions in a computer war game where players would come under fire from intercept missiles, heat-seeking missiles and the "motion camouflage" missiles. Players found it much harder to spot and recognise the motion camouflage missiles and shoot them down.
This has incredible potential for future anti-aircraft missile systems (especially since a volley of missiles could be fired with the aircraft only recognising one profile), but also provides a unique new challenge in space or flight sims for gamers like us.
So what do you guys think? Do you look forward to a motion-camouflage missile flying your way in FL2? Or do you think it could become an unessescary distraction?
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Eat a third and drink a third and leave the remaining third of your stomach empty.
Then, when you get angry, there will be sufficient room for your rage.