The First Robot

Made by the master when he was twelve, the robot was on display in 1495 at the Duke of Milan's celebration. The robot knight could stand, sit, raise its visor and independently maneuver its arms. The entire robotic system was operated by a series of pulleys and cables. Since the discovery of the sketchbook, the robot has been built faithfully based on Leonardo's design; this proved it was fully functional, as Leonardo had planned. The robot has the look of a knight. The armor is made from a German - Italian medieval style.The robot wasn't made just for show. It acted like an actual human being in a body of armor. It had different motions. These motions included sitting up, moving its arms, neck, and an anatomically correct jaw. Also it was most likely planned to be made with fluidity in combat. It is partially the fruit of Leonardo's anatomical research in the Canon of Proportions as described in the Vitruvian Man

Google (n.d.). The Ingenuity behind Leonardo Da Vinci Inventions .Leonardo Da Vinci's Life. Retrieved January 2012, from http://www.davincilife.com/ingenuity-behind-inventions.html

Aerial Screw

The Aerial Screw is believed to be the predecessor of the helicopter. This invention wasn't made by Da Vinci. The invention's schematics were left in his journal along with all of his notes. The invention was made to compress air to obtain flight. Basically to build up enough momentum to hover above ground. Based on Leonardo's notes the Aerial Screw was supposedly made up of reed, linen, and wire. Unlike the helicopter, the Aerial Screw was to be powered by four men instead of two. There wasn't any weapons placed on the machine while the helicopter usually has gun attachments. 

Universal Leonardo: Leonardo Da Vinci Online. (2011). Retrieved December 9, 2011. From http://www.universalleonardo.org/

The Flying Machine (Ornihopter)

The Hang Glider is a modified version of Leonardo Da Vinci's invention: The Flying Machine.To accomplish the success of this prototype, Leonardo studied how bats flew. He carefully examined the exoskeleton of its wings. This would be the base of invention. Leonardo calls it "The Great Bird". The Flying Machine was designed as a bat. So the wings had to move. Going up and down and then stop to glide. This design was to sustain flight rather than to push forward based on human power and wind.  Unlike Da Vinci's invention the hang glider is a equilateral triangle that is used for the sole purpose of gliding. Da Vinci's invention was actually imitating a bat. There are many models made from his notes, But none will be as good as the original.

Carroll Gray. FLYING MACHINES (2003). Retrieved December 2,2011.
 From http://www.flyingmachines.org/davi.html

The Armoured Car

The Armoured Car was Da Vinci's most famous war weapon. Throughout the years it has taken modifications like no other. Da Vinci's Armoured Car was a 8 maned vehicle. There were cannons evenly distributed in a 360 degree range. 4 men to move it and 4 men to fire the cannons. Just like the Tank today the Armoured Car had metal plating on it. Even though the Armoured Car was designed beautifully. It had one flaw. The flaw was there for a reason. It took too much effort to rotate the Car in a stationary state. Due to this the Car had very little use in battle. The Tank is the result of the modifications to Da Vinci's Armoured Car. Instead of having four wheels to maneuver the vehicle. The Tank has two traction belts that can overcome any terrain. Both vehicles have one central cannon surrounded by smaller cannons or machine guns.

David Kujit. Da Vinci Condotta (July 21, 1998). Retrieved November 25,2011. From http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~kuijt/dba169x/dba169x.html

Leonardo's Workshop Brought Back To Life

Discovery Times Square Convention opened. The convention is holding a spot for Leonardo's Workshop to showcase all his inventions. Many off the machines that are on display weren't constructed by him. They were just sketches. He considered them to be future projects. Milan’s Leonardo3 is a center that is devoted to Da Vinci's work. These people made Leonardo's future projects become a reality. The article has interviews with the founders and workers who built these magnificent pieces of evolution. All they had to work with and go back to for reference was Leonardo's sketches. The exhibition also offers touch-screen elucidations of details in that “Self Portrait,” as well as in the Mona Lisa and “The Last Supper.” 


Leonardo da Vinci’s Workshop” is on view through March 14 at Discovery Times Square Exposition, 226 West 44th Street, Manhattan; (866) 987-9692.

Exhibition Review - 'Leonardo da Vinci's Workshop' - Flights of Mind, Brought to Life. (2009). Retrieved November 19th, 2011. From http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/arts/design/20leonardo.html?pagewanted=1&ref=leonardodavinci

Overview+Purpose

I've decided to do my blog on Leonardo Da Vinci and how his inventions have helped mankind. Da Vinci has always be a source of curiosity for me. Being the "Renaissance Man" he was well ahead of his time. His thinking process was of a different caliber when being compared to his colleagues. Most of the time that he spent in his workshop was never wasted on something pointless. It was always accomplished towards a bigger picture. He built bridges, war machines and other machines based on gravity. During the next 9 weeks I will explain what his inventions were and how they helped the world. Hopefully, this blog will help other Da Vinci fans understand him a little more.