It all begins with Nikola Tesla. In 1898, Tesla demonstrated a radio‑controlled boat (sometimes referred to as a “teleautomaton”) at Madison Square Garden — a small, low‑lying steel craft that responded to radio signals. His invention was patented (U.S. Patent 613,809) and is widely considered the first wireless remote control of a mechanical device. Tesla’s goal was more visionary than consumer convenience — he saw remote control as a stepping stone toward robotics, unmanned vehicles, and wireless control over machinery. Still, that demonstration planted the seed: controlling machines from afar, without wires, was possible. This blog is originally published here: https://fireplace-remotes.com/history-of-remote-controls-tesla-to-today/