THE 30 MOST IMPORTANT INVENTIONS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI - HISTORY - 2024

The inventions of Leonardo da Vinci continue to influence the world to this day. The helicopter, the parachute, the anemometer, the tank or the crossbow are some of the many that continue to be used.

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most prolific inventors in history; he engineered inventions and innovations in a wide variety of fields. He stood out for his curiosity and his ability to innovate and be creative in different areas of knowledge.

Whether it be the design of weapons of war, flying machines, water systems, or tools of the trade, da Vinci, the inventor (like the artist) was never afraid to look beyond traditional thinking.

Famous inventions of Leonardo da Vinci

1- Helicopter (Propeller)

Although the first real helicopter was not built until the 1940s, Leonardo da Vinci's sketches from the late 15th century are believed to be the predecessor to the modern flying machine.

Like many of da Vinci's ideas, he never built it, but his notes and drawings mapped out exactly how the device would work.

2- Anemometer

Historians stipulate that it was Leonardo da Vinci's fascination with flight that inspired him to innovate the anemometer, an instrument for measuring wind speed.

His hope was that, in 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, he made variations on the existing one, originated by Leon Battista in 1450, (da Vinci's design was probably made between 1483 and 1486), so that it would be easier to measure the force of the wind..

Along with his sketches of the anemometer, da Vinci made the following notes: "To measure the distance traveled per hour by the force of the wind, a clock is required here 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 about the possibility of people soaring 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 the potential of flight.

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 bat's inspiration shines above most, as the device's two wings possess tips commonly associated with the winged creature. Leonardo Da Vinci's flying machine had a wingspan that exceeded 33 feet and the frame had to be pine covered in raw silk to create a lightweight yet robust membrane.

4- Parachute

Although credit for the invention of the first practical parachute is generally given to Sebastien Lenormand in 1783, Leonardo da Vinci actually conceived the idea of ​​the parachute hundreds of years earlier.

Da Vinci outlined the invention with this description: 'If a man has a tent made of linen, the openings of which have all been plugged, and it will be twelve braccias (about 23 feet) wide and twelve inches deep, he may be thrown from any great height without suffering any damage ”.

Perhaps the most different aspect of da Vinci's parachute design was that the canopy was triangular rather than rounded, leading many to wonder if it would actually have enough air resistance to float. And since da Vinci's parachute had to be made from linen covering a wooden frame, the weight of the device was also seen as a problem.

5- War machine or 33-gun mortar

The problem with the cannons of the time was that they took a long time to load. Da Vinci's solution to that problem was to build multi-barreled mortars that could be loaded and fired simultaneously.

The cannons were divided into three rows of 11 cannons each, all connected to a single turntable. Attached to the sides of the platform were large wheels.

The idea was that while one set of cannons was being 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 capable of moving 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 lined with 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 on top to coordinate the firing of the cannons and the steering of the vehicle.

7- Giant crossbow

One thing Leonardo da Vinci may 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 that they could actually inflict.

This was the main idea behind many of da Vinci's war inventions like his giant crossbow. Designed for sheer intimidation, the crossbow would measure 42 braccia (or 27 yards). The device would have six wheels (three on each side) for mobility, and the arch itself would be made of fine wood for flexibility.

The invention of the giant crossbow is a great example of how da Vinci's illustrations really brought his ideas to life. Through your illustrations, an idea, however improbable, becomes realistic and plausible.

8- Triple barrel 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 both of these problems, a fast and light weapon that could do a lot of damage on the battlefield.

Unlike a cannon, the da Vinci cannon allowed soldiers to load three shots at a time. The lighter weight and large wheels allowed the gun carriage to be mobilized to different areas during battle.

9- Clock

To avoid any initial confusion, Leonardo da Vinci did not invent the clock. What he did was design a more accurate watch. While clocks showing hours and minutes had become more and more accurate in da Vinci time (15th century), they did not make a big leap until the introduction of the pendulum some 200 years later. But, da Vinci actually designed a more accurate watch.

Leonardo's clock had two separate mechanisms: one for the minutes and one for the hours. Each was made up of elaborately connected weights, gear, and harnesses. The watch also has a dial to keep track of the phases of the moon.

10- The Colossus

Perhaps more interesting than the ambition and innovation behind Leonardo da Vinci's invention of the colossus, 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 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, 80 tons of bronze was required, which had to be applied in a uniform thickness or the statue would be unstable.

To do this, da Vinci used his experience in cannon design to invent a new technique for making molds. He also had to invent an innovative furnace to reach the necessary temperature to heat such a large quantity 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 combines da Vinci's talents as an artist, architect, engineer, and inventor to create an entire city. The perfect idea for da Vinci's city emerged after the plague devastated Milan, killing nearly 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. His ideal city integrated a series of connected canals, to be used for commercial purposes and as a sewer system.

The city would have lower and upper areas, the lower one would be channels for merchants and travelers, and the upper part would be paths 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 his ideal city never came to fruition.

12- Robotic arm or robotic knight

With his innovative engineering mind, Leonardo da Vinci had many ideas employing the use of pulleys, weights, and gears. Certainly, these three components were crucial to many of his automated inventions - including his versions of the clock, 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 as well, 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 throughout his notebooks.

Designed for a contest in Milan (which the Duke had put Leonardo in charge of overseeing), the Robotic Knight consisted of a knight's suit filled with 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: sitting up, getting up, moving his head, and raising his visor. Using several different da Vinci drawings, 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's designs as inspiration for the robots he developed for NASA.

13- Self-propelled car

Before motorized vehicles existed, Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled chariot capable of moving without being pushed. Historians later deduced that da Vinci specifically designed the chariot for theatrical use.

The car was powered by coil springs and also offered steering and braking capabilities. When the brake was released, the car was propelled forward, and the steering was programmable to go, either straight, or at preset angles.

14- Diving equipment

While working in Venice, the "city of water", in 1500, da Vinci designed his diving equipment for stealth attacks on enemy ships from the water.

The leather diving suit was equipped with a bag-like mask that passed over the diver's head. Attached to the mask around the nose area were two reed tubes leading to a cork diving bell floating on the surface.

15- Swivel bridge

The swing bridge designed for Duke Sforza, could be packed and transported for use by armies on the move. The bridge was balanced over a stream or a moat and was placed on the other side so that the soldiers could pass without problems.

The device was wheeled and incorporated a rope and pulley system for quick use and easy transportation. It was also equipped with a counterweight tank for balancing purposes.

16- The tank

Leonardo da Vinci's tank was designed while under the patronage of Ludovico Sforza in 1487. It was designed to be driven directly onto a battlefield and 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 ball bearing or ball bearings

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 helicopter design was unsuccessful, the 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 would also mention an early form of ball bearing.

It would not be until 1792 that a filed patent was made for the "modern" ball bearing; It was awarded to the Englishman Philip Vaughn in 1791.

18- The glider

Da Vinci's glider came close to being able to fly, in fact experiments have been created using the materials he would have available and they found that the glider could have actually 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- Channel closure

This is one of his longest-lasting 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 its job exactly as intended.

Leonardo's miter lock was two 45 degree angles meeting at one point. When the impending water hit them, it forced the two mitres together, resulting in an even tighter seal between them.

20- Mirror polishing machine

This invention is a masterpiece of mechanical engineering. It has several mesh gears and it also has several variable settings built into it.

This machine was most likely designed by Leonardo while he was investigating the various ways that light reflected off things; or perhaps he was planning to invent a telescope or other optical device.

21- Scissors

Something as simple, but as important as scissors, had enormous importance in the development of humanity.

Who knows how many centuries would have passed without this tool if it hadn't been for da Vinci? Although there are references to older scissors used by the Egyptians, the scissors as we use them now were the creation of Leonardo.

22- Rotating crane

During his apprenticeship in the courtyards of 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 pits and canal excavations. The jib cranes invented by da Vinci not only work at heights, but also allow the rapid transport 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 meant to rotate around and through a series of mechanisms that the drums beat automatically. The model is made of plastic and a snap-on 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 on the system by the operator (1 soldier) are transferred to both the cables and tension arms of the catapult.

By releasing the firing pin (the ratchet), the stored energy is instantly transferred from the cables and tensioning arms to the swing arm, which would contain a lead bullet or cannonball.

25- Rowboats

The Leonardo da Vinci boat model is made of plastic and is a set of snaps together so no need to glue them.

Leonardo's boat is one of the first rowing boats designed. The ship would remain in operation for hundreds of years until the invention of the marine propeller.

26- Printing

Leonardo's printing model consists of a small set of woods joined together in a single piece and no glue is required. The model also shows the mechanics Leonardo designed to operate the printing press.

27- Water floats

Leonardo also looked for efficient flotation devices, designing a set of shoes and poles that are similar to modern ski equipment.

He thought they would allow men to walk on water, however, Leonardo was not thinking in terms of a leisure activity. Rather, his consideration was its potential during war, when soldiers needed roads to cross rivers and seas.

28- The grill

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 operation and how the sketch of fires of various 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 noted that: "The roast will become slow or fast depending on whether the fire is small and strong."

29- The lifting jack

The Leonardo lifting jack is not much different from the jacks used today. Composed of reduction gears, a shelf, and a crank, it would have been of great use in Leonardo's day.

We do not know if this was Leonardo's invention, a modification of a piece of equipment, or just a detailed sketch of the equipment.

30- Textile machines

Leonardo's textile machines are among his lesser known pieces, yet he showed great foresight in this area and designed trimming machines, automatic spindles, shears, and two rope-twisting machines that appear in the Codex Atlanticus. The most complicated of these racks is one of fifteen simultaneous strands.

References:

1. Davinci Inventions (2008). Leonardo Da Vinci inventions. 1-2-2017, by Davinci Inventions. Taken from da-vinci-inventions.com.
2. Lairweb ORG. (2016). Leonardo da Vinci. 1-2-2017, by Lairweb. Taken from: org.nz.
3. Da Vinci inventions. 1-2-2017, from leonardodavincisinventions.com.