Awarded more than 100 patents over the course of his lifetime, Nikola Tesla was a man of considerable genius and vision. He was reportedly born at exactly midnight during an electrical storm, an intriguing beginning for a man who would one day help light up all of America with the alternating current (AC) electric power systems he invented. In addition to his AC system, Tesla pioneered radio technology, experimented with X-rays, invented the first boat controlled remotely, and was a great proponent of wireless communication.