Nikola Tesla, the father of "radio control"

[Eric]

Check it out:
November 8, 1898 (http://www.teslasociety.com/radio.htm)

The more you read about Tesla, the more you realize Thomas Edison was an ass.

[Oscar]

Tesla was a certifiable genius

[newracer]

I loved playing with the Tesla Coil in physics class in HS. :evil:

[The Man With The Plan]

A genius, and a little nuts. Seems to go hand in hand.

[newracer]

He envisioned some day being able to transport high voltage through the air, no need for wires. :eek:

[Eric]

He envisioned some day being able to transport high voltage through the air, no need for wires. :eek:
He didn't just envision it, he demonstrated it. The big picture of that vision was for a world-wide network of towers for free wireless power. The "free" part was a little hard for his financial supporters to swallow, hence the project screeching to a halt. Based on Tesla's experience, the only reason we have power lines is so the utility company has somewhere to place the meter. I wonder what the world would be like with wireless power? Imagine driving your electric car anywhere you want to with no batteries or recharging hassles. He also wanted to tap in to the electric potential of the Earth itself, and use the Earth and its atmosphere as the power source. What a vision indeed!

[newracer]

I have not read much about it, I wonder how he envisioned controlling it so it would be safe?

[Eric]

I have not read much about it, I wonder how he envisioned controlling it so it would be safe?

He was a big fan of demonstration. Here he's holding a light bulb illuminated by wireless power:
http://ava7.com/images/lightbulbs/tesla-light-bulb.jpg

Here's a famous photo of him reading a book in his lab:
http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/images1/tesla14_cr.jpg

He was an amazing man, well worth the time to read about him. In fact he briefly had a lab in Colorado Springs.

[Trango]

BTW, not one hour ago, I was talking to a EE engineer about inductive loads in the 6 pound bags of water you'd find approximately 5 feet above the ground, as induced by things like overhead powerlines, cellphones, leaky microwaves etc. We then talked about the ability to cadge 120v from loops placed near haute tension lines, which the power company understandably frowns upon and can now detect.

Basically, power generation through induction. I'd presume that Tesla's system was higher frequency EMF?

BTW, there is now a sort of small-device power recently created, that makes your Sonicare cradle charging look like direct connection - this claims a radius of 5 feet or so to power any small appliance in its radius. Again, for a world that sees EMF concerns arise from handheld brushless motors, I wonder what the safety factors are on this.

BTW David Bowie playing Tesla FTW.

BTW^4, you do realize that my avatar is Tesla holding a wireless lightbulb, yes?

BT

[Trango]

http://www1.theforce.net/jc/icons/miscellaneous/threadkiller2.gif

I'm really sorry. This stuff actually really interests me.

BTW, speaking of EMF, I once experienced inductive voltage from a MIG stinger that passed across my left chest...while welding, I started to experience an irregular thumping in my chest, but it stopped as soon as I stopped welding.

[newracer]

It really interest me too, I just have not read enough about it. I need to go get some books.

[Scott91MJ]

there was a Tesla Museum in CO Springs, talk about hands on learning. Too bad that it closed up shop I think in the late 90's, due to robbery.

[Mudbug63]

I have to think if we were using the "Over the Air" transmission of electricity life would be much different then it is now.

Given the inherent noise/static/interference of power transmission in general and un-contained discharges in particular (lighting, blow transformers etc) I bet most common things like TV, Cell phones, broadcast radio would be either non existent or drastically changed from what we know today if power was "broadcast" over the air.

It certainly is a interesting point to ponder.

[89minitruck]

certifi-able is exactly correct... he was wicked smart.