Nikola Tesla’s Inventions and Achievements

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Table of Contents

Alternating Current
Wireless Power Transmission
Remote Control
X-ray Investigation
Tesla’s Vision of the Future
Criticism of Tesla’s Work
Conclusion
Works Cited

Nikola Tesla is a famous Serbian-American physicist, engineer, and inventor of the 19th and 20th centuries. Tesla is well-known for the invention of alternating current motor and investigation of wireless power transmission. He was among scientists who created the fundament for many modern technologies. Tesla can be considered one of the greatest inventors of his time whose studies and discoveries influenced the development of various spheres, including not only the world of science but also the everyday life of people. This paper will discuss the most notable achievements of Nikola Tesla and his vision of the future and provide criticism of his work.

Many researchers recognize the invaluable contribution that Tesla made to science. Lomas, for instance, calls him “the man who invented the twentieth century” and “genius of electricity” (qtd. in Hadzigeorgiou et al. 1122). There is evidence that his contemporaries also recognized his talent. For instance, in the International Electrical Congress, Tesla was introduced as “the Wizard of Physics” (Klein 321). In this Congress, when Tesla demonstrated some of his inventions and discoveries, including the rotating magnetic field and the “continuous-wave radio transmitter,” “the audience showered him with applause” (Klein 321). These and other inventions of Tesla will be discussed further, representing the importance of his contribution to the world of science.

Alternating Current

The most significant achievements of the genius of electricity are connected with alternating current (AC). Tesla became the first who believed in the possibility of using AC. The scientist designed an AC system of electric power transmission. He invented the elements for this system in 1887 in his laboratory (Roguin, p. 371). To prove the safety of alternating current, Tesla also showed the experiment where he “lighted lamps without wires by allowing electricity to flow through his body” (Roguin, p. 371). In the heart of an AC system was the polyphase induction motor.

Tesla discovered the rotating magnetic field that became a key element for his induction motor. Tesla’s polyphase system is used nowadays, allowing generating and transmitting electricity (Vujic et al, p. 2). As Vujic et al. note, the updated versions of Tesla’s motors made it possible to convert electricity into mechanical power (p. 2). Thus, one may agree that Tesla’s induction motor became one of his most significant inventions.

It is interesting to discuss that Tesla’s AC system led to the event in the history of the scientific and commercial world called the war of the currents. Another famous scientist of that time, Thomas Edison negatively reacted to Tesla’s ideas. Edison’s company was promoting direct current (DC) and was trying to prevent the spread of AC technologies. As Vujic et al. point out, Edison’s company “invented the electric chair to frighten people away from the use of Tesla’s AC system of electricity” (p. 3). Nevertheless, the war of the currents was won by an AC system.

The Westinghouse Corporation bought Tesla’s patents on AC technologies. As Roguin notes, “the future of industrial development in the United States” was at stake, and this war of the currents became very important in this context (p. 372). An AC system proved its advantages, as it required less cost and turned out to be more effective for power transmission over long distances. In 1893, the Westinghouse Corporation got a contract for building the power plant at Niagara Falls with the usage of generators created by Tesla (Vujic et al, p. 3). After the Niagara project, the power was carried to Buffalo city. According to Roguin, these events “proved the workability of Tesla’s polyphase system of AC” (p. 372). As a result, an alternating current system of electricity started to be used widely, carrying power to people’s houses throughout the world.

Wireless Power Transmission

For a long time, Tesla was working on wireless transmission of energy. His studies of alternating current led him to the invention of the Tesla coil. It is an electrical resonant transformer, producing high-voltage, high-frequency AC electricity. Variations of Tesla coils are still used in radio and television (Roguin, p. 372). Pawade et al. note that Tesla proved himself to be a “Father of Wireless” (p. 382). In 1891, he showed wireless transmission of electrical energy over small distances with the help of the coils (Pawade et al, p. 382). In 1893, “Tesla demonstrated the illumination of vacuum bulbs without using wires for power transmission” (Pawade et al, p. 382). Thus, Tesla can be called a pioneer in the sphere of wireless technologies. When being able to transfer energy wirelessly over small distances, he also started to dream about larger scales, which will be discussed later.

Remote Control

Tesla also can be considered the scientist who invented the remote control. In 1898, he presented the radio-controlled robot boat (Vujic et al, p. 3). As Vujic et al. note, “this invention was so far ahead of its time that those who observed it could not imagine its practical applications” (p. 3). Thus, it proves that Tesla had a certain vision of the future. It is possible to agree that this vision often was misunderstood or perceived more like a magical one rather than scientific by his contemporaries.

X-ray Investigation

Another significant but often forgotten discovery made by Tesla is connected with x-rays. As Hrabak et al. point out, Tesla’s name is rarely associated with this field of studies (p. 1189). However, in 1894, when x-rays were not discovered and named yet, he started to investigate this phenomenon. Tesla, as researchers note, was the first in the USA to obtain the x-ray image (Hrabak et al, p. 1190). As was already mentioned, it happened prior to the official discovery of x-ray made by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895. Later, Tesla sent x-ray images of the human body to Röntgen who congratulated him, “wondering how he had achieved such impressive results” (Hrabak et al, p. 1190). According to Hrabak et al., Tesla also “described some clinical benefits of x-rays — for example, determination of foreign body position and detection of lung diseases” (p. 1190). Unfortunately, many of Tesla’s papers about the x-ray investigation were lost because of the fire in his laboratory in 1895 (Hrabak et al, p. 1191). Probably, this event has led to the fact that Tesla’s contribution to this field is often forgotten.

Tesla’s Vision of the Future

It is also worth mentioning some of Tesla’s ideas that he was not able to realize due to limitations of possibilities or money and misunderstanding of his contemporaries. Tesla himself told that he worked for the future, not the present (qtd. in Vujic et al, p. 4). If returning to wireless technologies, it is worth to discuss Tesla’s dreams about the creation of a worldwide wireless system for the transmission of power. In 1900, Tesla started to build Wardenclyffe Tower that was to become the first wireless telecommunications tower for non-commercial transatlantic telephony, broadcasting, and demonstration of wireless power transmission (Roguin, p. 373). Unfortunately, in 1903, the project was stopped due to the financial problems and the lack of support (Roguin, p. 373). Nevertheless, one may agree that this tower became a brave invention demonstrating Tesla’s vision of the future. Roguin notes that Tesla’s tower can be considered “the first infant step toward the Internet, global positioning satellites, the atomic clock, and wireless communications” (p. 373). Apart from wireless technologies, Tesla was working on ideas in other spheres.

Some of his inventions were also aimed at military purposes. In 1928, Tesla patented vertical takeoff aircraft (VTOL) that was combining features of helicopter and airplane (Vujic et al, p. 4). Although he had never built it, “VTOLs are in military use today” (Vujic et al, p. 4). In addition, Tesla was working on a beam weapon project. He tried to make an agreement with the British and Soviet government on the usage of this weapon and also attempted to negotiate with the U.S. government (Carlson, p. 338). It is worth noting that Tesla’s ideas about weapon creation were aimed at the achievement of peace and less war loses.

These are just a few of Tesla’s plans that were not completed or realized. As Roguin notes, although some of his studies remained only on the paper, they are “still examined by engineers for unexploited clues” (p. 373). According to Vujic et al., Tesla’s vision of the future also relates to many modern technologies, including computers, radar, robotics, television broadcasting and others (2). However, despite his brilliant mind, Tesla’s thoughts also were imperfect at times, which will be discussed further.

Criticism of Tesla’s Work

Of course, even such a genius as Nikola Tesla had failures. His contemporaries became disappointed in Tesla when he did not manage to complete some of his inventions. In 1903, Hawkins wrote that ten years ago, Tesla was considered “an electrician of greatest promise,” but now “his name provokes at best a regret that so great a promise should have been unfulfilled” (qtd. in Carlson, p. 6). This criticism was mainly connected with Tesla’s researches for wireless power transmission.

As was mentioned above, Tesla was dreaming about completing his Wardenclyffe Tower. Unfortunately, even if the project had not been abandoned, the tower would not have worked the way Tesla imagined it. He incorrectly considered that the Earth could be used for the conduction of energy. Due to some of his experiments, Tesla was sure that he could “tap the Earth’s electrical energy” (Carlson, p. 211). He assumed he could broadcast power around the globe “by pumping electrical oscillation into the ground at the Earth’s resonant frequency” (Carlson, p. 211). However, even some of his contemporaries saw the impossibility of this idea. Michael Pupin, professor of Columbia University, criticized Tesla’s tower from the point of view of engineering. He stated that until Tesla could provide engineering specifications for transmitting signals through the Earth, he denied believing in this project (qtd. in Carlson, p. 336). This criticism was also given in the context of Marconi’s work who, in the eyes of many, became a true inventor of a wireless system.

When talking about Tesla and Marconi, it is also interesting to discuss the invention of the radio and debates following it. Some researchers note that Tesla can be considered the one who invented the radio (Vujic et al, p. 3, Pawade et al, p. 382). Carlson believes, however, that Tesla “sure got it wrong with radio” (p. 6). As Carlson notes, Tesla indeed was the first to investigate electromagnetic waves “to appreciate the importance of grounding the transmitter and receiver” (p. 141). In addition, some of Tesla’s findings were used and modified by Marconi later (Carlson, p. 141). However, one may agree that further research would not lead Tesla to the invention of the radio.

Tesla’s work was aimed at the different direction of more advanced technologies. According to Carlson, Tesla was not “interested in creating a communication system” (p. 141). He was dreaming about delivering light and power wirelessly. Marconi, in turn, wanted to create a device for wireless communication. In addition, as Carlson notes, Tesla was more “curious about the current that passed through the Earth” and not waves radiating through space (p. 141). It is worth noting that Tesla was trying to prove the advantages of his system over Marconi’s, mocking him in press (Carlson, p. 337). However, taking into account Carlson’s arguments, it is possible to agree that Tesla’s investigation was directed to a different sphere that would lead him away from the radio. Nevertheless, it does not reduce Tesla’s contribution to the development of a wireless communication system.

Conclusion

One may conclude that Tesla indeed proved himself to be the genius of electricity and made great steps for developing science. He became a pioneer of alternating current and wireless technologies, and some of his inventions are used or modified nowadays. He also achieved impressive results in other spheres, including, for instance, the investigation of x-rays and remote control system. It is possible to agree that Tesla stands out among many scientists due to his aspiration for the future. Although he, like all people, made mistakes and some of his ideas were imperfect, his contribution to science is invaluable.

Works Cited

Carlson, W. Bernard. Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age. Princeton University Press, 2015.
Hadzigeorgiou, Yannis, et al. “Encouraging a “Romantic Understanding” of Science: The Effect of the Nikola Tesla Story.” Science & Education, vol. 21, no. 8, 2012, pp. 1111–1138.
Hrabak, Maja, et al. “Nikola Tesla and the Discovery of X-rays.” RadioGraphics, vol. 28, no. 4, 2008, 1189–1192.
Klein, Maury. The Power Makers: Steam, Electricity, and the Men Who Invented Modern America. Bloomsbury Press, 2008.
Pawade, Sourabh, et al. “Goodbye Wires: Approach to Wireless Power Transmission.” International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering, vol. 2, no. 4, 2012, pp. 382–387.
Roguin, Ariel. “Nikola Tesla: The Man Behind the Magnetic Field Unit.” Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An Official Journal of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, vol. 19, no. 3, 2004, pp. 369–374.
Vujic, Jasmina, et al. “Nikola Tesla: 145 Years of Visionary Ideas.” 5th International Conference on Telecommunications in Modern Satellite, Cable and Broadcasting Service. TELSIKS 2001. Proceedings of Papers (Cat. No. 01EX517), vol. 1, 2001, pp. 2–5.

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