Nikola Tesla

1856–1943· Serbian-American

Inventor, electrical engineer, and futurist best known for contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system.

Major Inventions

Tesla's patents and theoretical work formed the basis of modern AC power systems, including the polyphase AC motor, the Tesla coil transformer, and rotating magnetic field principles. His work at Westinghouse Electric helped establish AC as the standard for power transmission.

Wireless Communication

Tesla demonstrated wireless communication principles before Marconi's radio work, and envisioned a world wireless system for communication and power transmission (the Wardenclyffe Tower project).

Legacy

The SI unit of magnetic flux density (tesla) is named in his honor. His inventions and ideas anticipated technologies developed decades later including radar, X-ray imaging, and remote control.

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