Camouflage robot changes colour for disguise

A robot that can change its colours to either blend in with or stand out from its surroundings has been created by scientists.

The machine, details of which are reported in the journal Science, was inspired by the camouflage skills of sea creatures such as octopuses, cuttlefish and squid.

Like these cephalopods, the robot has a soft, rubbery body and can move with flexibility, as Stephen Morin from Harvard University explains.

This video has been produced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which publishes the journal Science.