When an object, such as an aircraft or submarine, moves through a fluid it generates a ‘wake’ behind it which can be used by monitoring tools to detect its size and position. Cloaking devices work by modifying this wake to hide the object from detection, or to provide false information about its size and intention. Sam Shelley, a researcher at the University of Exeter, explains how a flexible tail can be fixed to the back of an object to modify its wake for this purpose, or even to generate energy harvesting in the ocean.

This video is part of a collaboration between FYFD and the Journal of Fluid Mechanics featuring a series of interviews with researchers from the APS DFD 2017 conference.

Sponsored by FYFD, the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, and the UK Fluids Network. Produced by Tom Crawford and Nicole Sharp with assistance from A.J. Fillo.