Researchers from Seoul National University in South Korea have developed a soft-bodied robot with color-changing features to blend into its surroundings.

To develop the color-changing skin, researchers used a combination of temperature-based color-changing "thermochromic liquid crystal ink" and silver nanowire heaters. Meanwhile, embedded color sensors enable the chameleon-like robot to respond to the surfaces it encounters, reportedly changing color fast enough to mimic actual color changes in animals, according to researchers.

The researchers believe that the technology could be used for future military, cosmetic or active wear applications.

For more information on the color-changing robot, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of Nature Communications.