Rudolf Diesel was a German inventor and mechanical engineer who is best known for inventing the diesel engine. Some synonyms for Rudolf Diesel could be the inventor of the diesel engine, the father of diesel engine, or the diesel engine pioneer. Diesel's work revolutionized the transportation industry and had a significant impact on the global economy. He patented his invention in 1892, and soon after, it became widely used in ships, trains, and trucks. Today, Diesel's legacy lives on in the millions of diesel engines that power vehicles, industrial machinery, and generators around the world.