New nanomaterial gives robots chameleon skin

Breakthrough could allow machines to communicate quickly and from distance by altering patterns

A new nanomaterial which can change colour in response to movement could be used to give robots chameleon-style abilities, scientists say.

The film – created by researchers in the US – could be coated onto machines which would then be able to communicate with humans quickly and from distance by simply altering shade.

The breakthrough, revealed in the Nature Communications journal this week, could allow robots to be sent into dangerous spaces with them then relaying information back to observers.