The Inventions of Leonardo da Vinci Continue to influence the world to this day. The helicopter, the parachute or the crossbow are some of the many that are still being used.
Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most prolific inventors in history, engineered inventions and innovations in a wide variety of fields.
Whether designing weapons of war, flying machines, water systems or working tools, da Vinci, the inventor (like the artist) was never afraid to look beyond traditional thinking.
30 famous inventions of Leonardo da Vinci
1- Helicopter (Propeller)
Although the first real helicopter was not built until the 1940s, it is believed that Leonardo da Vinci sketches of the late fifteenth century were the predecessor of the modern flying machine.
Like many of da Vinci's ideas, he never built it, but his notes and drawings traced exactly how the device would work.
2- Anemometer
Historians stipulate that it was Leonardo da Vinci's fascination for flight that inspired him to innovate the anemometer, an instrument for measuring wind speed.
His hope was that, over time, the device could be used to give people a glimpse of the direction of the wind before attempting to fly.
While da Vinci did not actually invent the device, it made variations on the existing designed, originated by Leon Battista in 1450, (da Vinci's design was probably made between 1483 and 1486), so that it was easier to measure the force of the wind .
Along with his anemometer sketches, da Vinci made the following notes:"To measure the distance traveled per hour with the force of the wind, here a clock is required to show the time."
3- Flying Machine
Of Leonardo da Vinci's many areas of study, perhaps this Renaissance man's favorite area was aviation. Da Vinci seemed genuinely excited by the possibility that people would rise through the skies like birds.
One of Da Vinci's most famous inventions, the flying machine (also known as the"ornithopter") ideally displays his powers of observation and imagination, as well as his enthusiasm for flying potential.
The design of this invention is clearly inspired by the flight of winged animals, which da Vinci hoped to replicate. In fact, in his notes, he mentions bats, kites and birds as sources of inspiration.
Perhaps the inspiration of the bat shines above most, since the two wings of the device possess points commonly associated with the winged creature. Leonardo Da Vinci's flying machine had a wingspan of more than 33 feet and the frame had to be pine covered with raw silk to create a light but sturdy membrane.
4- Parachutes
Although credit for the invention of the first practical parachute was generally given to Sebastien Lenormand in 1783, Leonardo da Vinci actually conceived the idea of the parachute hundreds of years before.
Da Vinci made an outline of the invention with this description:"If a man has a tent made of linen, whose openings have all been plugged, and shall be twelve braccias (about 23 feet) wide and twelve inches deep, he may cast himself from Any great height without suffering any damage".
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of da Vinci's parachute design was that the canopy was triangular rather than rounded, prompting many to wonder if it would actually have enough air resistance to float. And since the da Vinci parachute had to be made with linen covering a wooden frame, the weight of the device was also seen as a problem.
5- Machine of war or mortar of 33 guns
The problem with the guns of the day was that they took a long time to load. The solution that gave Vinci to that problem was to construct mortars of multiple guns that could be loaded and fired simultaneously.
The guns were divided into three rows of 11 guns each, all connected to a single turntable. Attached to the sides of the platform were large wheels.
The idea was that while a game of cannon was fired, another set would cool down and the third set could be loaded. This system allowed soldiers to fire repeatedly without interruption.
6- Armored vehicle
The armored vehicles invented by Leonardo da Vinci were able to move in any direction and were equipped with a large number of weapons.
Da Vinci's most famous war machine, the armored car, was designed to intimidate and disperse an opposing army. This vehicle had a series of light guns arranged in a circular platform with wheels that allowed a range of 360 degrees.
The platform was covered by a large protective cover (much like a tortoise shell), reinforced with metal plates, which had to be tilted to better deflect enemy fire. It had an observation tower at the top to coordinate the firing of the guns and the direction of the vehicle.
7- Giant crossbow
One thing that Leonardo da Vinci might have understood better than any of his contemporaries was the psychological effects of weapons of war. Da Vinci knew that the fear that weapons could inflict on enemies was just as important (if not more) than the damage they could actually inflict.
This was the main idea behind many of the inventions of the da Vinci War as its giant crossbow. Designed for pure intimidation, the crossbow would measure 42 braccia (or 27 yards). The device would have six wheels (three on each side) for mobility, and the bow itself would be made of fine wood for flexibility.
The invention of the giant crossbow is a great example of how the da Vinci illustrations really brought their ideas to life. Through its illustrations, an idea, however improbable, becomes realistic and plausible.
8- Triple cannon mortar
As a military engineer, one of Leonardo da Vinci's key beliefs was that mobility was crucial to victory on the battlefield. This idea is seen in many of his war inventions.
During da Vinci's time, cannons were generally used at home in stationary positions rather than on the battlefield. Da Vinci designed his triple-barreled mortar to solve these two problems, a quick and light weapon that could do a lot of damage on the battlefield.
Unlike a cannon, the da Vinci cannon allowed soldiers to charge three shots at once. The lighter weight and large wheels allowed the carriage of the weapon to be mobilized to different areas during the battle.
9- Clock
To avoid any initial confusion, Leonardo da Vinci did not invent the watch. What he did was design a more accurate watch. While clocks showing hours and minutes had become increasingly accurate in the time of da Vinci (fifteenth century), they did not make a great leap until the incorporation of the pendulum some 200 years later. But, da Vinci really designed a more accurate watch.
Leonardo's watch had two separate mechanisms: one for minutes and one for hours. Each was composed of heavily connected weights, gear and harnesses. The watch also has a dial to follow the track of phases of the moon.
10- The Colossus
Perhaps more interesting than the ambition and innovation behind the invention of the colossus of Leonardo da Vinci, is the brilliant story of his attempts to bring it to life. In 1482, the Duke of Milan commissioned da Vinci to build the largest horse statue in the world. Leonardo da Vinci was never afraid of the challenges so he designed a 24 foot bronze statue and then went to work creating a clay model.
The next step was to cover the model in bronze, which was not an easy task. Due to the size of the statue, it required 80 tons of bronze, which had to be applied in a uniform thickness or the statue would be unstable.
To do this, da Vinci used its experience in the design of cannons to invent a new mold manufacturing technique. He also had to invent an innovative furnace to reach the temperature needed to heat such a large amount of bronze.
11- The ideal city
Perhaps no idea speaks of the epic ambition and scope of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions better than his ideal city. This invention focuses not only on a single area but also combines the talents of da Vinci as an artist, architect, engineer and inventor to create an entire city. The perfect idea of the city of da Vinci arose after the plague devastated Milan, killing almost a third of the population.
Leonardo wanted to design a city that was more united, with greater communications, services and sanitation to prevent the future spread of such diseases. Its ideal city integrated a series of connected channels, that would be used for commercial ends and like system of sewerage.
The city would have lower and upper areas, the lower would be channels for merchants and travelers and the upper would be roads for"gentlemen". The roads were designed to be wide, most likely in response to the narrow streets of Milan , Where people were stuck, contributing to the spread of the plague. Unfortunately your ideal city never came to fruition.
12- Robotic arm or robotic knight
With his innovative engineering mind, Leonardo da Vinci had many ideas that used the use of pulleys, weights and gears. Certainly, these three components were crucial to many of their automated inventions - including their watch versions, air conditioning and hydraulic saw.
Da Vinci also incorporated these mechanisms into his automotive invention, which many people consider the first robot. But da Vinci used the pieces to create another robot too, his robotic knight. Although a complete drawing of da Vinci's robotic knight has never been recovered, fragments detailing different aspects of the knight have been found scattered in his notebooks.
Designed for a contest in Milan (which the Duke had put Leonardo in charge of supervising), the Robotic Knight consisted of a knight suit full of gears and wheels that were connected to an elaborate system of pulleys and cables.
Through these mechanisms, the da Vinci robotic knight was capable of independent movement: sit, stand up, move the head and raise the visor. Using several different da Vinci drawings, the roboticist Mark Rosheim built a prototype of the robotic knight in 2002, who was able to walk.
Rosheim observed how Leonardo had designed the robotic knight to be easily constructed, without a single unnecessary part. Rosheim also used da Vinci designs as inspiration for the robots he developed for NASA.
13- Self-propelled truck
Before motor vehicles existed, Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled car capable of moving without being pushed. Historians later deduced that da Vinci specifically designed the car for theatrical use.
The car was driven by coiled springs and also offered steering and braking capabilities. When the brake was released, the carriage was propelled forward, and the steering was programmable to go, either straight, or at prearranged angles.
14- Diving equipment
While working in Venice , The"city of water", in 1500, da Vinci designed its diving equipment for stealth attacks on enemy ships from the water.
The leather diving suit was equipped with a bag-type mask that passed over the diver's head. Tied to the mask around the nose area were two cane tubes leading to a cork diving bell floating on the surface.
15- Rotating Bridge
The rotating bridge designed for Duke Sforza, could be packed and transported for use by moving armies. The bridge swung over a stream or a pit and was placed on the other side so that the soldiers could pass smoothly.
The device had wheels and incorporated a system of rope and pulleys for a quick use and easy transport. It was also equipped with a counterbalance tank for balance purposes.
16- The tank
The Leonardo da Vinci tank was designed while under the patronage of Ludovico Sforza in 1487. It was designed to be led directly to a battlefield and to decimate the enemy with its 360 degree cannons.
The tank is based on the shell of a turtle. Leonardo is often inspired by nature for his inventions.
17- The bearing of balls or bearings of balls
Leonardo da Vinci invented the ball bearing between the years 1498-1500. He designed it to lower the friction between two plates that would be in contact in his other famous design, the helicopter. Although the design of the helicopter was unsuccessful, the bearing or ball bearing is a different story.
The next known mention of any type of ball bearing was almost 1500 years later than Leonardo's design. 100 years after Leonardo's design, Galileo Galileo It would also mention an early form of ball bearing.
It would not be until 1792 that an archival patent for the"modern"ball bearing was made; Was granted to Englishman Philip Vaughn in 1791.
18- The glider
The da Vinci glider was close to being able to fly, in fact, experiments were created using the materials he would have available and found that the glider could have really flown with a couple of minor modifications.
This design was based on the birds that da Vinci bought to try to create and imitate the flight mechanisms of birds.
19- Close Channels
This is one of his most enduring inventions. This type of lock is still in use today on almost any canal or waterway. Leonardo's design was more efficient, easier to move and did his job exactly as intended.
Leonardo's miter block was two 45-degree angles that meet at one point. When the imminent water hit them, it forced the two mates to come together, which resulted in an even narrower seal between them.
20- Mirror polishing machine
This invention is a masterpiece of mechanical engineering. It has several gears in mesh and also has several variable settings built into it.
This machine was most likely designed by Leonardo while he was investigating the different ways in which light was reflected out of things; Or planned to invent a telescope or other optical device.
21- Scissors
Something as simple, but as important as the scissors, had a huge importance in the development of humanity.
Who knows how many centuries would have passed without this tool if it had not been for da Vinci? Although there are references of ancient scissors used by the Egyptians, the scissors as we use it now were Leonardo's creation.
22- Rotating crane
During his apprenticeship in the courtyards of the Florentine buildings, Leonardo has the opportunity to observe many cranes, among which are those designed by Brunelleschi. He draws them on many pages of his manuscripts.
These models are designed to be used in stone wells and canal excavations. The spinning cranes invented by da Vinci, not only work at heights, but also allow rapid transportation of materials; In the double-arm version, the movement is facilitated by the counterweight.
23- Mechanical drum model
Leonardo da Vinci's mechanical drum was designed to entertain the guests of one of his employers.
The drum was intended to be turned around and through a series of mechanisms that the drums would automatically beat. The model is made of plastic and a snap-fit set, so no gluing is required.
24- Catapult model
Leonardo's design for the catapult is simple and ingenious. It is a ratchet and rachet system that gradually increases the firing system.
As the system is tightened, the forces placed in the system by the operator (1 soldier) are transferred to both the cables and the tension arms of the catapult.
When releasing the hammer (the ratchet), the stored energy is transferred instantaneously from the tensioning arms and cables to the swingarm, which would contain a lead bullet or barrel.
25- Rowboats
The Leonardo da Vinci boat model is made of plastic and is a set of snaps together, so you do not need to glue them together.
Leonardo's boat is one of the first designed rowing boats. The ship would remain in operation for hundreds of years until the invention of the marine propeller.
26- Printing
Leonardo's model of printing consists of a small set of united woods encompassing a single piece and no glue is required. The model also shows the mechanics designed by Leonardo to operate the printing press.
27- Water Floats
Leonardo also sought efficient flotation devices, designing a set of shoes and sticks that are similar to modern ski equipment.
He thought they would allow men to walk on water, yet Leonardo was not thinking in terms of a leisure activity. Rather, their consideration was their potential during the war, when soldiers needed roads to cross rivers and seas.
28- The rotisserie
The automated rotisserie is a design that has a perfectly practical application and is quite simple. Leonardo did not actually invent this idea, but he drew illustrations showing that he studied its performance and how the sketch of fires of different sizes produced a varying result during the roasting of the meat.
A hot fire has a stronger draft and therefore a more even roast. Leonardo pointed out that:"The roast will become slow or fast depending on whether the fire is small and strong."
29- The lifting jack
Leonardo's lifting jack is not much different from the cats currently used. Composed of gear reducers, a shelf and a handle, would have been very useful in the days of Leonardo.
We do not know if this was an invention of Leonardo, a modification of a piece of equipment, or simply a detailed outline of the equipment.
30- Textile Machinery
Leonardo's textile machines are among his lesser-known pieces, however, he showed great foresight in this area and designed cutting machines, automatic spindles, shears and two string twisting machines that appear in the Codex Atlanticus. The most complicated of these frames is one of fifteen simultaneous strands.
References:
- Davinci Inventions (2008). Leonardo Da Vinci inventions. 1-2-2017, by Davinci Inventions. Taken from da-vinci-inventions.com.
- Lairweb ORG. (2016). Leonardo da Vinci. 1-2-2017, from Lairweb. Taken from: org.nz.
- Da Vinci inventions. 1-2-2017, from leonardodavincisinventions.com.