TCT ACTIVITIES REGARDING BIRD CAMERA

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Animal Partners
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06527521
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: September 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2019
• Publication Date: January 5, 1976

3.3(h)(2)
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a W... 4 � 4110
ORD-0008-16
5 January 1976.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: TCT Activities Regarding Bird -.Camera
1. This Memorandum covers the :period between,
16 December 1975 and 5 January 1976 regarding the
progress for developing and testing a bird camera.
Requirements and program scheduling have been com-
pleted for the ultimate test at the
in late Apri1.1976. A TCT meeting was held in mid-
December during which activities in the 16 December
memorandum were discussed with the team members. Also,
the bird camera development schedule (attached) was
discussed. At this meeting,- the probable resolution
on the. ground was estimated to be about 1-1/2, to
inches per 100 feet of altitude, and it Was further
estimated that the bird would fly at an altitude of
.about 100 feet. of MSDJIAS Was
asked if this was adequate resolution for gathering
Meaningful intelligence. His estimate at that time
was that it probably was adequate but he would study .
the problem in some detail and let me know if it was
not.. At this time, I have received no communication
from . The issue of vertical versus
oblique angle for taking pictures was discussed, but
no firm decision was made except that vertical is
probably as good as any since the right and left edges
of the picture will be about 30 degrees off the center-
line even if the camera were pointed straight down.
2. Film has been ordered and received from Kodak.
This is a special high-resolution thin-based film
designated as 3400 and 3414. The film slicer has
been obtained from OTS; and a $5,000 work order has
been established for the purpose of using
their photographic laboratory to slice film and process.
test samples of resolution charts, etc,, for determining
resolution and calibrating blurring due to linear motion
of the camera. During the week of 5 January, several rolls of
E2 IMPDET
.CL BY
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SUBJECT: TCT Activities Regarding Bird Camera
film will be sliced to 16 mm format and will be taken to
for test by next week in the initial
prototype camera. Following these tests, the camera will
be brought back here for subsequent tests, probably during
the early part of the week beginning 19 January.
.3. A new harness for the camera has been designed
out of a thin Mylar film weighing approximately 1/2 gram
as opposed to the previous 4-1/2 gram harness weight.
Two pigeons have been purchased and fitted with the new
harness and a mock-up of the new camera. A prototype
harness and dummy camera were sent on .
29 December. This mock-up system is being flight
tested now on pigeons Resolution charts
have been ordered and should be here by the end of this
week. Three Midland transceivers have been obtained and
checked out for use in the prototype flight tests at the
end of this month. In addition, portable 'audio recording
equipment has been collected and. checked out for use in
the field during these same tests
4. Dimensions for .the Radome target to be used
for the ultimate tests in April were found
to be as follows:
a. Sphere is
b. A truncated base
in diameter;
in diameter;
c. A height between the base and the top of
the sphere of
A portable test target for use has been
selected and was mailed to him on 26 December. This
� is a rubber balloon which inflates to a diameter of
20 feet in approximately 30 minutes. It comes with an
air compressor at a total cost of approximately $500.
S. At this time, the camera development program is
pretty much on schedule. It is estimated that preliminary
flight tests on the West Coast will take place during the
latter part of this month. The purpose of these tests
2
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SUBJECT: TCT Activities Regarding Bird Camera
is to take pictures of Air Force resolution charts placed
on the ground whereby preliminary estimates of resolution'.
and motion blurring can be determined.
Charles N. Adkins
Operations Technology, ORD
Attachment:
Camera Development Schedule
Distribution:.
0 - C/OTD then file Watt
CEB/OTD Chrono w/o att
1 - OTD/ORD Chrono w/o att
- ORD Registry w/o att
OTD/ORD/DD/S&T/CNAdkins :kmc/2763
�
Q r 7.7 -17
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DECEMBER
JANUARY
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� .C.,D1W.H.AX �
MARCH
PRIL
GROUND
RESOLUTION
CHARTS
TWO-TEST
CAMERAS
-_ LOADED
FILZ4 AND
CASSETTES
GROUND
- TESTS
SHAKE �
RESOLUTION
CHARTS
PRELIMINARY
FLT. TESTS
RESOLUTION
CHARTS �
ANALYSIS
BUILD
LOW F NO.
LENS
GROUND
TEST .
ANALYSIS
FLIGHT
TESTS
FINAL
MOD.
MINIS
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