Harry Potter’s "invisibility cloak" appears closer to reality as Canadian camouflage manufacturer Hyperstealth Biotechnology has applied for patents on its "Quantum Stealth" material.

The "inexpensive and paper-thin" technology works by bending light around a target to either alter its position or make it vanish altogether, leaving only the background visible. It is touted to be able to obscure the positions of heavy artillery, ground troops or even entire buildings from certain viewpoints.

In a video released by Hyperstealth detailing the quantum stealth concept, a small piece of material is attached to the top of a miniature tank, meaning it is unable to be seen from above.

In another, inventor and Hyperstealth CEO Guy Cramer demonstrates the material when covering a handheld riot shield. When held close to the body, Kramer’s distorted torso is still visible, but when held out at arm’s length, vanishes into the background.

Most arresting is when "Version 2" of the technology, which doesn’t need a power source, is positioned to visibly manipulating the location of a tree to obscure both a van and building.

While still in development, with obvious distortion when looking at the material, Quantum Stealth has also been demonstrated to hide a target in the infrared, ultraviolet and thermal spectrum.