Active camouflage

''This article describes the cloaking technology. For other uses, see Camouflage (Disambiguation).''

The term Active Camouflage (often shortened to Active Camo and sometimes invis or av-cam ) refers to various light-bending technologies, both UNSC and Covenant. Most commonly, the term is applied to Forerunner-developed cloaking equipment that is generally stored in small, deliberately fragile containers.

Description
In Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, it is stored in a small, glass-like pyramid; in Halo 3 it is suspended in a spherical force-field. A person can use the light-bending energy by merely coming into physical contact with the container, which will cause it to break and release its contents. Upon release, the energy envelops the wearer and bends light around their skin, armor, or shielding, conforming to their form and rendering them almost invisible. However, there will be a very faint outline of the player along with a distortion of the image. At that point, the energy will gradually dissipate and wear off, slowly revealing its user.

The effect lasts only for ten seconds, and only prevents visual detection; those using Active Camo can be observed by other means, including motion tracking, noise, and environmental disturbances (things like footprints on soft terrain). If a player also has an overshield, the yellow lines will still be visible allowing an alert player of someone there.

Being a Forerunner device, it is (re)discovered by the Covenant and as such, Active Camo is most commonly used by Special Operations Elites, Stealth Elites, and Brute Stalkers. However, all varieties of MJOLNIR armor that are Mark V and beyond can use it.

Function
Active Camo will easily cloak its user and the weapon they are wielding, this visibility is different per game. The Energy Sword in Halo: Reach is completely cloaked, but this is not the case during Halo: CE.

Though Active Camouflage is quite effective from a distance, it can faintly be seen if an observer is close enough to the wearer. However, it is difficult to spot a camouflaged opponent from a distance using a scoped weapon—actual physical proximity is required to reliably spot a person using Active Camo. It should be noted, though, that Active Camouflage does not mask environmental effects such as footprints, meaning that it is not as effective on soft terrain (such as the snow found in Halo 3 ' s Snowbound and Avalanche Multiplayer maps).

The shielding provided by Active Camo can be disrupted if projectiles,such as rockets, bullets, and explosions make contact with it; such a disruption weakens the invisibility effect and temporarily reveals the wearer. The powerup can be disrupted if the wearer fires shots or if the wearer is hit. It also progressively worsens: the longer the wearer fires (or is hit), the more visible they become. Once the disruptions end, however, the wearer quickly regains their invisibility.

Science
Technically, Active Camouflage is not quite invisibility, though it is very similar. Rather, it is the term that is used to describe a broad range of technologies that allows a wearer or object to blend in with its terrain, mimicking the environment around it perfectly, though in two dimensions. There are a variety of ways to do this, though the UNSC uses photo-reactive panels on its Semi-Powered Armor and prowler warships for optical camouflage, adapting to account for movement.

Though it has never been elaborated on in detail, it is suspected that Covenant versions of the concept use phased array optics to project a three-dimensional hologram of background scenery around the wearer of the system, effectively bending light, a task well within the Covenant's tier two technology level. The technology can be utilized on Human armor systems, such as the MJOLNIR armor, but the UNSC has only developed a rough equivalent, the Camouflage cloak.

Talc powder and other atmospheric particles can disrupt the systems, causing the technology to overload and fail. The device also generates a considerable amount of heat, causing its user to be clearly visible on Human thermal goggles and some variations of the Sniper Rifle. The humans of Alpha Base on Installation 04 used this advantage when their base was infiltrated by stealth Elites, equipping their Fire Teams with infrared goggles allowing them to easily see the attackers. In addition, William and Kelly employed talc powder in order to overload the camouflage on Reach in order to find them, though this appears to have been altered in the games.

UNSC
The UNSC has developed various technologies to conceal a soldier or any object from view. The most common form of this technology operates on a different principle than the Covenant active camo, using photo-reactive panels to impersonate the surrounding environment like a chameleon. A device known as the Camouflage cloak can hide the wearer's infrared signature, beside serving as a form of camouflage. However, UNSC camouflage technology is inferior to Covenant active camouflage in many respects.

The Semi-Powered Infiltration Armor used by the Spartan-IIIs utilizes photo-reactive panels to conceal the wearer's infrared signature and to blend in with the surrounding environment. When combined with their natural talent and training for stealth, it can be a very effective tool. Some Headhunters use a prototype camouflage almost identical to the Covenant version, rendering them almost invisible, except that it only lasts 3–5 minutes and other systems have their power drained while it recharged. This feature was tested by ODSTs and saw only very limited use in 2552.

Active Camouflage technology was later improved and even applied to the MJOLNIR armor system. This camouflage is able to function without ablative panels; the active camouflage is generated by a small device attached to the user's back. This technology has its drawbacks however; all sound is muffled while the active camo is in use, and the more the user moves, the more visible they become. By 2557 active camouflage no longer muffles the wearer but cannot confuse the enemy as easily.

Much like the SPI armor, UNSC prowlers use ablative panels or "active camouflage skin" to conceal themselves from view in addition to masking their heat signatures. This camouflage isn't perfect however, and cannot keep up with a constantly changing background such as a gas giant's atmosphere. However, more advanced stealth ships were developed, such as an Unnamed Stealth Spacecraft using a form of cloak "bubble". This technology hasn't yet been observed in widespread use.

Changes Throughout Halo
If the Active Camo is active during Campaign, you are completely invisible to the AI enemies unless you fire your weapon. Active camouflage is only usable in Campaign when you are playing as the Arbiter in Halo 2, or you obtain the Envy Skull and restart Campaign(Active Camo replaces Master Chief's flashlight). In Halo 3, rather than Active Camouflage, the slightly different Cloaking is available. It is also available as a powerup in five levels during Halo: Combat Evolved: Truth and Reconciliation, Silent Cartographer, 343 Guilty Spark, Keyes, and Assault on the Control Room.

An interesting fact about Active Camouflage is that although you can see the Sword-wielding Active Camo Elites in Halo: Combat Evolved (due to the sword), the Marines cannot see them; this is likely because the developers didn't realize that the Energy Sword showed through the Active Camo, leading them to code the Marines' AI to be oblivious to it. This phenomenon is even referenced in Halo: The Flood. In Halo 2—the Elites now wait, only activating their swords when they're about to kill you.

Halo 2
In Halo 2, it is noted that the Arbiter's armor, while possessing a built-in active camouflage generator, is not permanent, unlike the more modern generators used by Special Operations Elites. There is a circle on the player's HUD that shows the amount of time left for both the usage of the active camouflage and the recharging sequence. The Master Chief can gain this ability with the Envy Skull on Legendary only; however, his screen will lack the meter, forcing you to remember the time allowed for use.

When playing as the Arbiter, using any attack will cause the active camouflage to deactivate, and the player must wait for it to recharge before using it again.

Halo 3
In Halo 3, the Active Camo is no longer contained inside a pyramid construct. Instead it appears as a large, glowing sphere with what appears to be containment devices around it, enclosing the powerup in Halo 3 multiplayer; but unlike past Halo games, active camo is not found in campaign. In campaign, Active Camouflage is replaced by the Cloaking equipment, which functions in the same way as active camouflage once did. Melee attacks, shooting, throwing grenades and using equipment will negate the effect of the power-up. Also, wearing the Flaming Helmet is an obvious give-away to the opponent because the fire is still visible.

The quality of camouflage in custom games may be set to two different settings :
 * Poor Camo: The player has camouflage that might fool a Grunt.
 * The player is still somewhat visible.
 * Good Camo: The player has camouflage that will fool an attentive Elite.
 * This makes the player almost invisible, but the light is distorted within the player's shape.

Halo Wars
Active Camo is an upgrade for the Arbiter. It allows the arbiter to turn invisible but his energy swords are highly visible. However, AI opponents cannot see him until he attacks, most likely meaning that the visibility of the swords is for players to easily command him. Active Camo is also an upgrade for Sangheili Honour Guards. The Honour Guard's active camo is their special ability, meaning it can only be activated for a short time, and must recharge before being used again.

Halo: Reach
The Active Camo in Halo: Reach has undergone many major changes. It is now available as an Armor Ability to both Spartan and Elite players. As a side-effect when used, it jams the radar of the player and all other enemy players within 25 meters, disorienting them, but also informing them of the player's nearby presence. It does not affect the radar of allies. The Active Camo also greatly reduces the volume of all sounds for its user, making it difficult to notice a grenade being thrown or a nearby enemy firing a weapon. When moving faster than crouch-walking speed, the Active Camo cloaks the user only partially and drains the amount of Active Camo faster.

The freedom for the player to control when they activate their camouflage makes it much more effective, as it allows for use in the most opportune situations, instead of restricting the player to activate it on pickup. However, the reduced hearing and radar jamming effects require the player to be aware of his/her surroundings at all times.

Unlike previous games, if you are wielding an Energy Sword and use the Active Camouflage armor ability your sword will not show. This allows you to get closer to the enemy without them supecting danger, maybe even getting them to charge. If a Spartan or Elite is to have their shields damaged in any way, their shields will flare when the damage is dealt and when the shield starts to recharge, outlining the unfortunate being in a yellow (UNSC) or blue (Covenant) electrical outline for about a second. This is usually not a problem, but can lead to death if an enemy happens to get a lucky grenade toss or spot the injured being while their shields recharge.

How to Spot Active Camouflage Users

 * Changing the graphics card settings on Halo PC (lowering the quality and effects) makes active camouflage users appear as an easily-seen gray, opaque silhouette.
 * The motion tracker can be used to spot an Active Camouflage user.
 * If the motion tracker displays many contacts than present, a player is using Active Camouflage.
 * The lights on a Gravity Hammer can be seen clearly when camouflaged. It is not recommended to have a Gravity Hammer either as your primary weapon or secondary weapon when using active camo, as the lights make you an easy target for experienced snipers.
 * In Halo: Reach, turn the graphic system to Low. Now enter a game and turn on your Night Vision, you may be able to have an easier time spotting a Active Camo enemy.
 * In Halo 4 the update now allows the player to spot an enemy for a second when they are fully revealed after firing.

Disadvantages

 * You can not use Vehicles while Active Camo is activated.
 * If you have the Eternal Flame Attachement, players will still notice you.
 * If you move around, others can somewhat see you depending on how much you move.
 * Firing a Plasma Based Weapon, will allow players to spot you.

Trivia

 * The Separatist Phantom in Halo 3 has its own Active Camouflage generators on board for various stealth missions. This is easily seen in the Halo 3 level, "The Covenant", when flying to the third tower.
 * Oddly enough, a group of Major and Minor Grunts in the Halo 2 level Delta Halo used Active Camouflage as they fought alongside a group of Stealth Elites. This suggests that at least some lower ranked Grunts have this equipment.
 * The photo-reactive panels used by the UNSC are similar in concept to the Octo-camo suit used by Solid Snake in the Metal Gear series.
 * When used in association with an Overshield, the Active Camo becomes completely useless due to the charges of the overshield washing over the player's body (except in Halo: Combat Evolved). In Halo 3, the same effect occurs when Active Camouflage and Overshields are both working.
 * The Active Camouflage has no effect on the flames on the Bungie Armor, allowing enemies to more easily locate the user of the chest piece.
 * With the Envy skull on in Halo 2, John-117's flashlight will be replaced with active camouflage. This can also be combined with a glitch which allows you to reload from a checkpoint, after saving and quitting, and turning off your console, with infinite active camouflage. This makes the Campaign on Halo 2 considerably easier, even on Legendary difficulty.
 * In any Halo game, when you have active camouflage on and you get in a vehicle, the camouflage stays on and appears as if there was a ghost driving it or that it was driving itself (works particularly well with the Warthog LAAG). It works with any vehicle which exposes the occupants to view.
 * In Halo 2 for Windows Vista, when playing on Threshold, your comrades are not picked up by radar when camouflaged.
 * In Halo 3, go in Monitor mode and find an Active Camouflage. Go inside it. After about 10–20 seconds, the Active Camo will stop making its shimmering noise and you'll hear a brief whispering sound (like a sigh or breath), and then it will continue its shimmering noise.
 * There is a glitch in the Active Camo of Halo: Reach where normally if you move while cloaked the camo will be slightly lessened but if you carry a turret and move around the cloak will be the same as if you were standing still.
 * After the Title Update that will be released sometime in March active camofuflage will completely show the player for a short while when firing.

Related Pages

 * Overshield
 * Permanent Invisibility
 * Custom Powerup