Object Details
maker
Skinner, B. F.
Description
During World War II, the U.S. military needed to find accurate ways to guide missiles to their targets. University of Minnesota psychologist B. F. Skinner suggested that a missile nose cone be supplied with three compartments, each with a window. A pigeon would be placed in each section, and trained to peck on the window when the target appeared. If all three pigeons pecked, the weapon would be released. This prototype was never developed, but influenced later work on animal training.
For a discussion of the instrument, see James Capshew, “Engineering Behavior: Project Pigeon, World War II, and the Conditioning of B. F. Skinner,” Technology and Culture, Vol. 34, No. 4, Special Issue: Biomedical and Behavioral Technology (Oct., 1993), pp. 835-857.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of B. F. Skinner
date made
1940s
ID Number
1981.0997.02
accession number
1981.0997
catalog number
1981.0997.02
Object Name
psychological apparatus
Physical Description
metal (overall material)
wood (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 64 cm x 57 cm x 58.5 cm; 25 3/16 in x 22 7/16 in x 23 1/16 in
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Military
Teaching Machines
Science & Mathematics
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Subject
Birds
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_690069