Nikola Tesla's Remote Control System for Boats
Nikola Tesla's 1898 patent for controlling a boat's movement and steering from a distance using radio waves and electrical signals.
Original patent title: “Method of and apparatus for controlling mechanism of moving vessels or vehicles”
Nikola Tesla's 1898 patent for controlling a boat's movement and steering from a distance using radio waves and electrical signals. Granted to Individual in 1898 with 15 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system for controlling a vessel from a remote location using electromagnetic waves. A receiver on the boat detects these waves, which trigger a sensitive device—a cylinder filled with metal grains—to activate internal relays. These relays then control electric motors that handle the vessel's propulsion and rudder position. The system uses a clockwork mechanism to reset the receiver after each signal, ensuring it remains ready for the next command.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover modern digital radio communication protocols like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
- Does not cover autonomous navigation systems that rely on GPS or onboard sensors.
- Does not cover systems that use infrared light for signaling.
- Does not cover software-based control algorithms.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
Tesla used a 'coherer'—a cylinder of metal grains—as a radio receiver that could be physically shaken or rotated by clockwork to reset it, allowing it to detect a new signal after each command.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Radio-controlled model boats
Early remote-controlled torpedoes
Foundational concepts for modern drones
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is a foundational document for the field of telemechanics, or remote control. Tesla famously demonstrated this technology in 1898 at Madison Square Garden with a radio-controlled boat, shocking the public who believed it was magic or a trained animal inside the hull.
Filed
July 1, 1898
Granted
November 8, 1898
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Modern drone manufacturers like DJI and defense contractors building unmanned naval vessels build upon the fundamental concept of remote telemetry and command-and-control that Tesla pioneered here.
Market impact
This patent helped prove the feasibility of wireless control, laying the groundwork for the entire remote-control industry. It transitioned the concept of wireless communication from mere telegraphy to the active manipulation of physical machinery at a distance.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system for controlling a vessel from a remote location using electromagnetic waves. A receiver on the boat detects these waves, which trigger a sensitive device—a cylinder filled with metal grains—to activate internal relays. These relays then control electric motors that handle the vessel's propulsion and rudder position. The system uses a clockwork mechanism to reset the receiver after each signal, ensuring it remains ready for the next command.
The clever bit
Tesla used a 'coherer'—a cylinder of metal grains—as a radio receiver that could be physically shaken or rotated by clockwork to reset it, allowing it to detect a new signal after each command.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover modern digital radio communication protocols like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
- Does not cover autonomous navigation systems that rely on GPS or onboard sensors.
- Does not cover systems that use infrared light for signaling.
- Does not cover software-based control algorithms.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
24/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$5K – $15K
Midpoint $10K · expired or expiring · industry baseline
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Nikola, T. (1898). Nikola Tesla's Remote Control System for Boats (U.S. Patent No. 613,809). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/613809/tesla-remote-control-teleautomaton
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Nikola Tesla's Remote Control System for Boats cover?
Nikola Tesla's 1898 patent for controlling a boat's movement and steering from a distance using radio waves and electrical signals.
Who owns patent US 613809?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1898.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 613809 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 15 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is a foundational document for the field of telemechanics, or remote control. Tesla famously demonstrated this technology in 1898 at Madison Square Garden with a radio-controlled boat, shocking the public who believed it was magic or a trained animal inside the hull.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover modern digital radio communication protocols like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Same assignee
More from Individual
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