Nikola Tesla: Godfather of Modern Physics

“The spread of civilization may be likened to a fire; First, a feeble spark, next a flickering flame, then a mighty blaze, ever increasing in speed and power.” - Nikola Tesla


Nikola Tesla was an incredibly influential physicist who was born in the wrong time period, viewed as an eccentric in his later years for his seemingly controversial inventions and experiments such as the Death Ray (which influenced generations of sci-fi fans)


Tesla's importance to both worlds is huge to say the least, starting out as Edison's apprentice then rapidly overtaking him in the field of physics, for example the war between AC and DC (Alternating Current and Direct Current, Tesla's was AC) which inevitably sparked off Tesla's career and the start of a new era for motor and electrical systems worldwide.


In February 1882, Tesla discovered the rotating magnetic field which led onto the A.C. induction motor then his polyphase alternating current system used to light the world today and started the industrial revolution at the turn of the century.


Amongst a host of other inventions and breakthroughs Tesla is the father of tv, radio, flourescent lights, laser beam, remote control, wireless transmission of electricity, robotics and vertical take off aircraft as well as foreseeing interplanetary communications and satellites. Fallout is based around Tesla's inventions all working as expected and his physical theories were correct, these include the Vertibird, Laser Rifle, Power Armor, HELIOS 1 and Mr Handy, to name a few.

Vertibird

Laser Rifle

HELIOS 1 

Helios 1 is a good example of Tesla's great vision for the world to have a sustainable, renewable energy source that has no negative impact on the environment except during its construction. Tesla had visions not only to utilise the sun, but was the first to propose wind and hydroelectrical power as a versatile means to end/cut down on fossil fuels, being a man dedicated to inventing for the better of mankind his view was that.. 'Science is but a perversion of itself unless it has as its ultimate goal the betterment of humanity.'(1) 

This state of mind is constantly referred to within the entirety of the Fallout series, many of the characters talk of him as some sort of god whereas all the ex-US government affiliated personnel disregard him as a fraud, yet hail Hertz and Marconi as the true pioneers of physics.

However, there is truth in HELIOS 1, because in spain there is a fully operational solar power station in Andalucia, which is more or less exactly the same as the one in Fallout...'With a power capacity of 20 megawatts, double that of PS10, PS20 should produce enough clean energy to supply 10,000 homes.' This power alone would be sufficient enough to power a bleak New Vegas strip and even a half cocked military base in the desert, which can transmit vast amounts of electrical energy wirelessly over vast distances, not too dissimilar from Tesla


Although it is most probably Nevada Solar One a huge sprawling solar power station situated east of Barstow, CA, USA which was the first test of a large-scale thermal solar power tower designed by the Department of Energy and proposed for construction by Southern California Edison, but doubles up as a relay to orbiting satellites such as Europe's first military optical recon satellite, Helios 1A. 


This is referenced in Fallout when the player first finds HELIOS 1, the atmospheric phenomenon created by dust particles and the light are clearly visible, leading the player to a series of access terminals allowing the player to take control of the power station, giving access to its unique orbital death ray and to channel the energy to various areas of the Mojave Wasteland.

References:

http://www.solaripedia.com/13/31/solar_one_and_two_(now_defunct).html

http://aboutfreeenergy.com/

http://www.teslaenergy.org/intro5.html