A hundred years ago, Popular Mechanics, January 1915, shows the Natalia, a radio controlled boat, and reports a test in which the unmanned vessel sailed from Boston Harbor 28 miles into open seas, controlled only by the wireless transmitter located as far as 20 miles from the boat.

As a backup, the boat could be controlled by light, since it was equipped with selenium cells which responded to light beams. While the details of this Army-Navy experminet were not revealed, it was believed that the receiver aboard the boat was equipped with a new type of coherer. The boat was equipped with a motor which actuated the boat’s steering wheel.

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