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1. Thank you for bringing the interesting historical
document on to my attention. The reason why you
have not received reports from on this project is that'I
asked them to discontinue their efforts after reviewing their re
sults and technical capability which is minimal in this area. Since
that time, they have been asked to review training techniques and
other methocs of reinforcement which might be useful in animal 'training. We have not as yet received reports on this activity.

2. I would like to comment on the theme which was expressed by lin his memorandum to I believe that since this memorandum was prepared, developments in the understanding, training, and guidance of animals i are encouraging and led us to institute a program under the general heading of Animal Studies through which we hope to achieve a number of objectives, some of which may be of real interest to the

i In the following paragraphs, I would like to summarize our approach to this problem with a description of those projects under way and planned for next year. You may recall that some of these were discussed at our joint meetings with 1 earlier in the year. You may wish to review in more detail those projects which you feel may have potential value

I believe it would be mutually beneficial to review iparameters and requirements in the near future so that they may be considered in the development of future animal studies.

RETEASED SEP 1983 490

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SUBJECT

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27 May 1965

MEMORANDUM FOR:

THROUGH :

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3.There are basically two ways one might approach the use of animals to accomplish specific tasks. One is the direct, brute force approach in which you "drive" the animal much like an automaton by direct control of his motor functions. This is, in effect, the mcthod which was tricd previously

but which proved to be undesirable from two points of view. First, this technique limited and difficult to operate. Secondly, the animal would inevitably behave in an unusual fashion that would undoubtedly be detected by even the most unsophisticated observer. The second technique involves a variety of training methods (usually operant) which reward or punish the animal.

which stimulate "pleasure"or "pain" centers. This method has the advantage of maintaining motivation for longer pericds of time but has the disadvantage of requiring rathcr sophisticated control equipment. I want to emphasize, however, that although are used in this technique, it is as a means of . reinforcement and in that sense distinctly separate from the motor control technique used in Our current operating philosophy is that we wish to find out the natural limitations on the use of animals before initiating more complex reward or punishment schemes. To state this more simply. we do not wish to develop hardware which will override a behavioral act which the animal can already perform unless it becomes necessary for motivational or specialized guidance reasons.

4.Current Animal Studies

a. This project which has teen under way for approximately twelve months was undertaken to explore the possible use

It is our intention to extend this program for a longer period and broaden the range of possible activities for Isince initial results have been encouraging.· This prompted my earlier memorandum to you to elicit other potentiat requirements. We would welcome your assistance in defining and refining requirements on other exploratory studies at your earliest convenience as we are currently renegotiating with the contractor. Film as well as reports will be made available for your review if you so desire.

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b. This project which has also been under way for approximately tweive months has two basic purposes. The first is to develop a prctotype system, totallyin a cat,

We felt that a tolal syster. approach would assist us in determining what the real problems are in fcats or dogs for a variety of The second purpose is to undertake a study of the cat

have not as yet fully! the system in the cat but hope to do this by the end of the summer. It is our intention to bring some of them to the east coast for demonstration and hopefully modification for possible use

i Reports on Project • to you if you so desire. ..

Iwill be made available

6. Proposed Studies

a. We are negotiating with a contractor to do a paper study on possible ways of guiding animals over short and medium range distances. There will be no hardware development by this contractor, but we hope to uncover some unexplored areas which might be useful,

b. We are in the process of negotiating a contract to train

This project was discussed with /some time back and I believe he felt this might be worthwhile exploring. No sensor development is anticipated at this point, However, this study will help to define the role which |might play as |vehicles only.

7. We welcome review and hope that you might provide us with some guidance from the requirements standpointt.

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27 May 1965