In 1891, Tesla invented the
Tesla coil, a type of high-frequency transformer that is still used in radio
and television transmission. He
experimented with wireless control, and, in 1898, he demonstrated a
radio-controlled boat he had invented.
In 1899, Tesla created artificial lightning in one of his laboratories. Tesla's other achievements include early
experiments with X-rays and radar, aircraft design, and the invention of neon
and fluorescent lighting.
Giant Tesla
Coil
Tesla was also a great
mechanical engineer, and created dozens of devices ranging from speedometers to
extremely efficient electrical generators.
One unique device was his bladeless turbine. Instead of using fan-type blades, Tesla's turbine utilized solid
disks of metal. His turbine ran on
either compressed air or steam, and was so efficient that a device held in the
hand could produce well over 10 horsepower!
Today, this bladeless technology is being used in a special type of
non-clogging pump designed for the oil industry.
Tesla had a knack for visualizing inventions in their final form. He also would envision a great many other
ideas and concepts, which only later in this century would come to pass. One such idea was the creation of a large
ring that would circle the earth. Built
on scaffolding, once completed, the scaffolding would be removed, and the ring
would remain stationary. 20th century
satellites work in a similar way.
Tesla was also responsible for a great many other inventions and devices that
we take for granted today. He proposed
the ability to locate objects in the air or in the ground by using radio waves.
Today, we call it RADAR, and when used to peer into the human body it’s called
MRI. Tesla also created radio-control
devices. His work with special
gas-filled lamps set the stage for the creation of fluorescent lighting.