Beginnings of UAV Technology

In 1876, Nikola Tesla began to develop a concept for a “remotely controlled unmanned airplane” which would use electricity transmitted “over long distances by alternating current” (Newcome, 2004, p. 11). In May of 1898, Tesla introduced a radio controlled boat to the Electrical Exposition in Madison Square Garden. It was commanded by sending out varying radio frequencies and was called “telautomation” (Newcome, 2004, p. 13). Although Nikola Tesla never fulfilled his dream of producing an unmanned airplane, he is still credited with developing the concept of unmanned aviation (Newcome, 2004, p. 14).