 Soon after the move , Rowe formed a new group under Herbert Skinner to develop the magnetron into an AI system , at that time known as AI , Sentimetric ( AIS ) . Lovell adapted his parabolic antennas to the magnetron with relative ease , and the AIS team immediately detected a passing aircraft when they turned on the set for the first time on 12 August 1940 . The next day they were asked to demonstrate the set for managers , but no airplane happened to be flying by . Instead , they had one of the workers bicycle along a nearby cliff carrying a small plate of aluminum sheet . This neatly demonstrated its ability to detect objects very close to the ground . As AIS rapidly developed into the AI Mk . VII , development of the Mk . IV 's follow @-@ ons , the Mk . V , and Mk . VI ( see below ) saw vacillating support . 
