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Project Pigeon

14.8k Jacobdaniel  5.2 years ago

Yes it's a Pigeon missile!
It will be done in a few days, tell me if you want to be tagged


Pigeon Guided Missiles

During World War II, the U.S. began developing a missile guidance system under the code name Project Pigeon, which later became known as Project Orcon, for “Organic Control.”

The idea was concocted by an American behaviorist, B.F. Skinner, and involved using pigeons to physically ride within missiles and guide them to their targets. In the plan, the pigeon would ride in a compartment aboard an unpowered, gliding missile as a screen was displayed in front of the bird showing the target. The pigeon would be trained to peck at the target on the touch sensitive screen and the missiles flight control systems would adjust according to where on the screen the pigeon pecked. This was a one way trip for the pigeons but they were seen as cheap, plentiful and fairly easy to train.

Despite initial skepticism at the slightly absurd notion of using pigeons to deliver high explosives, the project went ahead and initial training and tests were conducted. Although 25,000 dollars were spent on the project and some success was seen in the training, the project was later scrapped as it was deemed to be too impractical.

The U.S. Navy later picked up the project in 1948 under the new name Project Orcon, but again the plan was dropped when computer guidance systems became more advanced.