Tag: Wardenclyffe

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Nikola Tesla and the Beginning of Robotics

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Tesla robot remote controlled boatPeople today are fascinated by artificial intelligence and robotics. But did you know that Nikola Tesla was the first to demonstrate robotics in 1898? He enthralled onlookers with his robot boat in New York City long before Isaac Asimov made robots chic.

I wrote about this in my book, Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity:

While his Tesla coil research was proceeding, Tesla was also moving forward with his wireless radio experimentation. In “The Art of Telautomatics,” Tesla refers to a remote-controlled boat he described in The Century Magazine and demonstrated in Madison Square Garden back in 1898. In order to show how wireless technology could be used to command ships and missiles from a distance, Tesla had a large tank built in the center of the arena in which he placed “an iron-hulled boat a few feet long, shaped like an arc.” The audience, mostly attendees of the first annual Electrical Exhibition, was requested to ask questions and the automaton would answer them by signs, usually by turning left or right or reversing direction. “This was considered magic at the time,” writes Tesla, “but was extremely simple, for it was myself who gave the replies by means of the device.” He repeated the exercise with a more advanced and larger telautomatic boat in 1919. While Tesla acknowledged that these were “the first and rather crude steps in the evolution of the art of telautomatics,” it did signal the beginning of what today we might call robotics. Consider Tesla’s designs then and the remote-controlled drones used in our more recent military and terrorist control efforts and you can see how far he was ahead of his time.

Tesla’s experiments with wireless technology eventually led him to Colorado Springs, whose dramatic local lightning phenomena gave him a superb testing grounds. After about a year in Colorado he returned to New York and set up his famed Wardenclyffe laboratory and tower on Long Island. More on that at the link.

[The above is adapted from Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity]

David J. Kent is the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (2013) and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (2016) and two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

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Buy a Brick for Nik – Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe

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I bought a brick for Nik – Nikola Tesla, that is. And you can too. If you’ve been following this website you know of the extraordinary efforts to purchase Tesla’s last laboratory at Wardenclyffe and turn it into a science center and museum. And now you can get your name on it.

The Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, led by Jane Alcorn:

“invites you to become a permanent part of the Center project by purchasing a commemorative brick for one of the several places on our 16-acre campus where we will be establishing paved areas, beginning with the area at the base of the Nikola Tesla statue.”

Bricks come in two sizes (4″ x 8″ and 8″ x 8″), plus a special one for corporations. You can put your name, a favorite quote, a dedication, or whatever you want in support of Wardenclyffe. All funds go toward the continuing renovation and the building of a world-class science center.

Brick for Nick Tesla

Go here directly to order a brick.

I’ve already ordered mine. You could be next!

David J. Kent is the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and an ebook, Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time.

 

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The Oatmeal, Elon Musk, and Nikola Tesla – The Rise of Wardenclyffe

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David J. KentThe Oatmeal has done it again! The popular online comic series, created by Matthew Inman, is helping to finish the job of building Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe into a world class museum and science center. His audacity managed to raise over $1.3 million in 2012 for the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe to buy the property. And now in an even more audacious move he has asked Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk to pony up the $8 million still needed to turn convert the property into a usable venue.

This is Elon Musk’s reply:

Wow. This is exciting news for people like Jane Alcorn at the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, Nikola Lonchar at the Tesla Science Foundation, and myriad other Tesla fans around the world that contributed to saving Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe from demise. Even the publisher of my book, Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity, is happy (especially since the second printing will be in Barnes and Noble stores in July).

Now you’ll notice that Elon Musk didn’t actually commit to funding the entire $8 million needed (though that would be nice if he did…hint, hint). Details of how this moves forward are obviously yet to be defined. But it’s an amazing first step.

So how did this come about? The Oatmeal did it. I’ve discussed previously how Matthew Inman at the Oatmeal spearheaded a crowdfunding campaign that enabled purchase of the Wardenclyffe property. I had the pleasure of meeting Inman last year at the Tesla Memorial Conference held at the New Yorker Hotel.

Inman took the next step this week in a two-part spread on The Oatmeal. Part 1 talked about “What it’s like to own a Tesla Model S.” It’s turns out it’s pretty cool (in a magical space car kind of way). Part 2 gets to the nitty gritty (which is an idiom from childhood whose actual meaning still escapes me). Part 2 is called “Man vs Motor” and talks about all the super cool stuff Elon Musk is into. Okay, the envy factor is at a high level here as you read about Musk’s various endeavors beyond Tesla Motors, like SpaceX and James Bond’s super-duper Lotus Esprit submarine car. I guess when you invent PayPal, then sell it to eBay for $1.5 billion (that’s billion with a capital “B”), you have some spare change for innovation.

The Oatmeal asked Elon Musk to fund the entire $8 million needed. Talk about audacity.

In any case, The Oatmeal two-parter went up this week, and Elon Musk quickly responded with the tweet above. Happy dances all around.

It’s not that easy, of course. Much more has to be done, including filling in whatever balance is necessary to get the museum built. But right now it looks like the dream of turning Nikola Tesla’s last laboratory into a reality is actually going to happen.

Thank you Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal), Elon Musk, and all the people who have worked so hard to bring Nikola Tesla’s legacy to the modern world. I’m happy to have played a small role in that process.

David J. Kent is the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity. You can order a signed copy directly from me, download the ebook at barnesandnoble.com, and find hard copies at Barnes and Noble bookstores, as well as online at B&N.com and Amazon.com.

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Is Nikola Tesla’s Vision of Wireless Electricity Finally Happening?

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Nikola TeslaMore than a hundred years ago, Nikola Tesla invented wireless communication and power generation. He was a man far ahead of his time. Now it looks like the modern world maybe be catching up to his vision. Wireless electricity may be here.

A Boston-based company by the name of WiTricity has come up with a way of transmitting electricity without wires. As the company’s Chief Technology Officer reports to CNN, “we’re not actually putting electricity in the air. What we’re doing is putting a magnetic field in the air.” They do this by building a “source resonator,” which essentially is a coil of wire that generates a magnetic field when power is attached. Bringing a second coil in close proximity will generate an electrical charge.

Sound familiar? According to Arron Hirst:

The technology appears to based upon the original findings of Nikola Tesla. In a patent filed at the U.S Patent and Trademark Office on February 19, 1900, entitled “Apparatus for Transmission of Electrical Energy,” Tesla describes a similar system for delivering electricity from one static point, to another.

Tesla-PSJul1956

Tesla, after advancing wireless communication technology in Colorado Springs, began work on Long Island at Wardenclyffe. His ultimate goal was not only to provide international wireless communication (radio) but develop his system of wireless electrical power transmission. The technology itself seems simple by today’s standards, but it was groundbreaking when Tesla first envisioned the idea. WiTricity has already used the technology “to power laptops, cell-phones, and TVs by attaching resonator coils to batteries.” They are also working on a way to recharge electric cars. On their website they note the potential of wireless power:

Cell phones, game controllers, laptop computers, mobile robots, even electric vehicles capable of re-charging themselves without ever being plugged in. Flat screen TV’s and digital picture frames that hang on the wall—without requiring a wire and plug for power. Industrial systems and medical devices made more reliable by eliminating trouble prone wiring and replaceable batteries.

So perhaps after all these years Nikola Tesla’s technology will finally be coming to fruition. Hopefully WiTricity’s advances will recognize Tesla’s amazing contributions to the field. For more on how wireless power works (including your electric toothbrush), check out this very readable article. And for a fun read, check out author Thomas Waite’s use of Tesla’s wireless idea in his novel, Terminal Velocity.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

David J. Kent is the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, now available. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (both Fall River Press). He has also written two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

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Update on Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (A Great Christmas Gift)

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Tesla: The Wizard of ElectricityAs we approach the holiday season it’s a good time to give a few updates on Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and related events.

First of all, the book continues to sell well in Barnes and Noble stores. That’s both good and bad. The good part is obvious – sales! The bad part is that some Barnes and Noble stores are reaching the end of their stocks. And since we emptied out the warehouse a long time ago to fill the now emptying stores that means it’s getting harder to find the book.

So how do you get a copy? Here’s how:

1) Most stores still have copies. So run on down to your local B&N and grab them while they last.

2) Go to BarnesandNoble.com (or BN.com). You will likely see something like:

Available in stores.Pick Up In Store Near You

Entering your zip code will give you a list of B&N stores near you and whether they have any in stock.

3) Download the ebook. There is no shortage of ebooks that can be downloaded on the BarnesandNoble.com website and read on your Nook or your Nook app for iPhone or Droid phones. Talk about immediate gratification. And for half the hard cover price.

4) Check out Amazon.com. Yes, my publisher has an exclusive arrangement with Barnes and Noble, but anyone can list third party books for resale on Amazon. Last I checked there were two resellers on Amazon from whom you could buy copies.

5) Buy one direct from me. I have brand new first edition copies of the book all ready to ship. Better yet, I will personally sign and inscribe the book to you or to whomever you would like to give it to as a gift.

Which gets us to Christmas (or Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or Halloween or Thanksgiving). Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity makes a great gift!

Other Tesla-related updates:

Serbian President unveils Nikola Tesla monument at Wardenclyffe. Check out the story here and watch the video of the event that was livestreamed.

Donations of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity continue: I’ve received much positive feedback from friends, family, and total strangers saying that they have bought an extra copy of the book expressly to donate it to their local school or public library. This has been especially gratifying because it means they want to keep their copy but enjoyed it so much they want others to experience it as well.

Donating to SETAC: I’ve already donated a copy of the book to the “Silent Auction” at the next Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (of which I am the President of my regional chapter). Proceeds from the auction go to help student members of the Society.

The resurrection of Wardenclyffe continues: Since the purchase of Nikola Tesla’s last laboratory at Wardenclyffe this spring, volunteers have been hard at work cleaning up the grounds. Soon the work will start on the inside of the building to transform it into a museum and science center. Anyone wishing to volunteer should contact the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe.

Second Printing! While it hasn’t been officially confirmed, it looks like the publisher will order a second printing of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity for release next spring. If or when that happens I’ll be sure to let you know. Until then, you can buy signed copies of the book immediately from me. Remember, Christmas will be here soon. 🙂

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Serbian President Unveils Nikola Tesla Monument at Wardenclyffe

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Tesla: The Wizard of ElectricitySerbian President Tomislav Nikolic will unveil a monument to Nikola Tesla on the grounds of Tesla’s most famous laboratory at Wardenclyffe. The ceremony takes place on Monday, September 23, 2013 and can be viewed live online at 12 noon Eastern time for those who can’t be in Shoreham, Long Island.

Nikola Tesla is the inventor and scientist who made it possible for us all to use the electricity in our homes and buildings. After emigrating from Europe and becoming a naturalized American citizen in 1891, Tesla lived mostly in New York City. He had several laboratories in the city, plus worked in Pittsburgh and had a laboratory in Colorado Springs. But his final lab was Wardenclyffe. It was here that he attempted to bring wireless communication and power to the world. And thanks to an amazing crowdfunding campaign in 2012 by The Oatmeal (Matthew Inman) and Jane Alcorn at the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, Tesla’s old laboratory is being turned into a museum and educational center.

To view the livestreaming of the event, go to RememberTesla.com. After registering for the event you get a chance to see a series of videos of the monument and other Tesla Science Center activities. [Thanks to Kevin Wood for donating his time to document this amazing endeavor. That’s him below filming the placement of the statue.]

Kevin Wood Wardenclyffe Statue

Photo from Kevin Wood

See more photos by going to Kevin’s website and scrolling down.

Find out more about the project at the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe website.

I’ve been honored to play my small part in helping to bring Nikola Tesla to the people with my book, Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity. Please continue to support the Tesla Wardenclyffe project. The property is purchased and volunteers have been actively working on the grounds, but there is so much more to be done to turn the site into a world class Museum and Science Center.

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Energy Independence – Tesla Days Events in Philadelphia

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Tesla: Wizard of ElectricityBe a part of history. Join me and the Tesla Science Foundation at a 4-day “celebration of science, ideas and progress” as part of the annual Tesla Days, July 6 – 9+, 2013, in Philadelphia. In addition to a fantastic display of inventions, presentations, and music, the Tesla Science Foundation will sponsor a Million Volt March. Billed as “a global breakthrough movement dedicated to building awareness of a new energy paradigm envisioned by the world’s greatest inventor, Nikola Tesla,” this is your chance to pledge yourself to energy independence.

I’ll be there introducing my book, Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity, which will be hot off the presses. Will you join me?

As of this writing there is about one month to go before these two great events coincide – the launch of my book and the great Tesla Days events. Over the next few weeks I’ll be spotlighting both events here on these pages.

The final details are being worked out now for Tesla Days but one thing is clear – it will change the way you see energy! After the Million Volt March there will be a signing of the Declaration of Energy Independence – and with Tesla’s influence, there might even be free energy. Check here for more information on locations, events, and lodging. Note that there are still a few slots available if you can offer a talk on a Tesla-inspired film, book or visual arts project during the Monday and Tuesday of the Festival. Contact Howard Lipman at parisbks@yahoo.com to get on the agenda.

I’ll be speaking at the Festival and will post more details here when the final dates and times are announced. And after waiting for a very long nine months I’ll also have actual physical copies of my book for sale. So come on to Philadelphia, buy a book direct from me, and I’ll even sign it to you. How about that for a deal, eh?

These are exciting times for Tesla and for me. Come back here to Science Traveler over and over during the next month because I’ll be posting tons of new information on the book, how you can get your own copy (hint – Barnes and Noble stores, front display), and speaking engagements where you can come to hear me speak. If you can’t wait until July (and it will be difficult to wait, I know), check out my talk at the Tesla Memorial Conference at the New Yorker Hotel in January (skip to about the 10:50 mark to see me literally trip up the steps to the stage).

I hope to see you in Philly, and back here often during the next few weeks for important details and offers.

More information on the release of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity.

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Sneak Preview of the New Book – Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity

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Today is a day that will live in my memory for a long time. It is the day I received the first actual hard copy of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity. In a word, the book is amazing. In a few more words, it is like nothing you have ever seen before in a Tesla biography.

Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and David J. Kent

Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity by David J. Kent

As you can see, the book is designed to be visually appealing. The cover is a vibrant – go ahead, you can call it electrifying – blue and features a photograph of Nikola Tesla and the visage of his famed Wardenclyffe tower. Look closer to see hints of lightning and radio.

The goal of the book is to reach out to those who want to learn about Nikola Tesla…or who want to learn about the history of invention in the United States…or who, well, just want to have fun with science. Inside, the book is highly illustrated. Photographs, drawings, even cartoons are laced throughout to highlight the text and bring Tesla to life. You can see the table of contents in an earlier article.

Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity by David J. Kent

Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity by David J. Kent

In addition to the wonderful graphics are many call-out quotes and stories. You can giggle along with his assistants as Tesla introduces Mark Twain to his oscillating device. Marvel at the roaring falls as Tesla and Westinghouse team up to harness Niagara. Root for him as he takes on Edison and Marconi, and even Einstein. The combination of stories and illustrations seeks to bring Nikola Tesla to the people in a way that those who understand his inventions and those who do not can both appreciate.

Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity officially publishes on June 30th. It will be available in Barnes and Noble stores and online. I hope you like it.

More information on the release of Tesla: Wizard of Electricity.

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Updates on Nikola Tesla and Me

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It has been a busy week for Nikola Tesla and me. Here is a (very) quick run-down of some of the highlights.

Tesla: Wizard of ElectricityThe book is in the mail: I received word today that a few sample copies of Tesla: Wizard of Electricity have been received by my editor. He will be shipping one off to me in the mail, so by this weekend (or early next week at the very latest) I will hold the first copy of my baby book in my hands. We (that would be the royal “we”) are very much excited.

Wardenclyffe

The magazine article is in the mail: Okay, it’s not really in the mail yet since I just got the invitation last night. But I will be providing one of a series of articles for the premier issue of The Tesla Magazine. Planned for July 2013 and thereafter published quarterly in both print and electronic formats, the magazine will be available on Amazon, iTunes and elsewhere. Wardenclyffe will be featured in the first issue, as is rightly so given the enthusiasm over the recent purchase of Tesla’s final laboratory property and the intent to turn it into a museum and science center.

Tesla official posterThe (off) Broadway play is in the mail: I’m stretching the meme here, but bear with me. As previously noted I talked for two hours with the director, writer, and cast members of a new Off-Broadway play called, appropriately enough, TESLA. Opening night is this Friday, May 24th, and yours truly will be there. After the play we’ll jaunt backstage to chat with the cast and then, if I can dig up an “Early 1900s GLAM” suit, join them at the after-party.

Of course, while this week may be Tesla-busy, the next month or two will be super-Tesla-busy. Tesla: Wizard of Electricity is officially published on June 30th and I’ll be attending the Tesla Days events in Philadelphia in time for Tesla’s July 10th birthday. More on Tesla Days when I return (hopefully Live) from New York.

More information on the release of Tesla: Wizard of Electricity.

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Tesla Off-Broadway Opens Soon – Get Your Tickets Now

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In less than a fortnight the off-Broadway production of TESLA kicks off its run at Theatre 80 in New York City. I had the privilege of talking to the cast about Tesla, Edison, and other key characters two weeks ago and based on the script by Sheri Graubert and the direction by Sanja Beštić, I expect this to be a great play. Here’s the official poster for the show:

Tesla official poster

Without giving too much away, the basic premise is that of the aging scientist living out his last days in World War II-era New York, lamenting his inability to save his war-torn homeland of Yugoslavia. The old “Tesla,” played by veteran actor Jack Dimich, reminisces about his glory days as an inventive genius bringing alternating current to the masses. James Lee Taylor stars as the young “Nikola” as he works first with, then as a competitor to, Thomas Edison (played by Tom Cappadona). The interactions – and the contrasts – in personalities and work styles between Tesla and Edison is a key aspect of the play.

Other characters from Tesla’s life also make appearances, including collaborator George Westinghouse (played by Alessandro Colla), radio-rival Guglielmo Marconi and friend Mark Twain (both played by Anthony Guerino), Yugoslavian King Peter and Luka (played by Luka Mijatovic), and long-time friend Katharine Johnson (played by Samantha Slater).

I’ll have more on the play as opening night gets closer. You can follow directly on the Tesla Off Broadway Facebook page.

The timing of the play couldn’t be better. A week ago the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe signed the papers to officially purchase Tesla’s last laboratory on Long Island. My book, Tesla: Wizard of Electricity, will be available from Barnes and Noble by early July, just in time for Nikola Tesla’s July 10th birthday and the Tesla Days celebration in Philadelphia.

So no time to waste. Check out the links below to get your tickets for the play now.

EasyTheatres proudly presents TESLA written by Sheri Graubert, directed by Sanja Bestic.

US Premiere, May 24th 2013 at 8pm
@ Theatre 80, 80 Saint Marks Place, New York City.

Get your tickets today at:
https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/922789
http://www.teslaoffbroadway.com/
http://www.theatre80.net/

More information on the release of Tesla: Wizard of Electricity.

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