Lukasik’s predecessor, Eberhardt Rechtin, had focused on quietly getting rid of projects that were subject to congressional scrutiny, like a $1 million “mechanical elephant.” Operated by a man sitting inside the machine using hydroelectric controls, the four-legged “Cybernetic Anthropomorphous Machine” was designed to navigate the jungles of Vietnam, hauling equipment for soldiers. Rechtin called it a “damned fool” project bound to land ARPA in hot water.
