Forgotten inventions of the USSR, which were ahead of its time

In the history of Soviet science, there are many amazing inventions that are decades ahead of their time. Some of them could change the world, but for various reasons were forgotten or not developed properly. Let’s remember the most interesting ones.


1. The world's first mobile phone - LK-1


Few people know, but the world's first mobile phone was created in the USSR in 1957 by engineer Leonid Kupriyanovich. The LK-1 weighed only 3 kg, which at that time was considered a real breakthrough. The range was 20-30 kilometers, and the battery life reached 20-30 hours.
The inventor continued to improve his design, and by 1961 the size of the device was reduced to the size of a cigarette box weighing only 70 grams.

2. Personal computer MIR-1 - the predecessor of modern PC


In 1965, a computer MIR (Machine for Engineering Calculations) was created in Kiev - the world's first personal computer with the ability to program in a high-level language. It had many innovative features, including:

• High-level programming language interpreter
• Possibility of working in time-sharing mode
• Operating system with multitasking

3. Domestic nuclear reactor Topaz


In the 1960s, Soviet scientists developed a compact TOPAZ nuclear reactor for use in space and remote areas. It was the world’s first thermal emission converter reactor that could operate for years without maintenance.

4. Electric vehicle VNIITE-PT
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In the 1970s, VNIITE developed an experimental electric car with innovative design and technical solutions. The car had an aerodynamic body, energy consumption of only 12 kWh per 100 km and a power reserve of about 110 km.

5. The Setun system is a triple computer


In 1958, the first and only serial triple computer "Setun" was created at Moscow State University. Instead of the usual binary system of calculation, he used the triple, which theoretically allowed to achieve greater efficiency of calculations.

* All of the above images are artistic reconstructions and may differ from actual historical photographs.