History has preserved many brilliant people who with their ideas looked into the future for many centuries. Unfortunately, in the years of their lives, technologies and materials were at a fairly low level, which did not allow to realize all the amazing ideas in reality.
The great inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci made a big impact on the whole world, but remained projects on paper (sketches, notes and diagrams). In fact, the craft of an engineer was to be invented, not created by hand, so practically no invention served society. About the developments became known posthumously or in the form of modern projects of plagiarists.
Consider how Leonardo da Vinci anticipated his era with unique and useful inventions.
10. Robot Knight
A unique concept at that time made it possible to create the first robotic humanoid in the fifteenth century. The genius carefully studied human anatomy, for which he even had to physically delve into the dead. In the process, it was revealed that it was the muscles and joints that move the bone apparatus, which served as the principle at the core of the robot machine.
According to some data, Leo, unlike other projects, this one was actually implemented, that is, he was able to transfer the operating time from paper to a natural embodiment. Hiding this innovation was beneficial, however, the robot knight really existed, entertaining the rich at local parties. According to eyewitnesses, the cyborg could click its jaws, walk and even sit. The basis of the principle of operation were gears and pulleys.
9. Propeller
One of the most amazing inventions of the great Da Vinci. The screw externally represented an aircraft - a massive turntable, which was supposed to work on the principle of a helicopter. In this case, the blades had to be made of flax. With rapid unwinding, plant elements could provide the desired aerodynamic properties and traction to raise the machine up. In this case, the air cushion would produce pressure under each blade.
Modern scientists are soberly approaching this development and assure that the propeller could not become truly “air”.
8. City of the future
During his stay in Milan, Leonardo Da Vinci recorded massive outbreaks of plague in major European cities. The master tried to figure out what makes them so vulnerable to dangerous epidemics. So the idea was born to design and build from scratch a special “clean” city in which the population could live in sanitary conditions without risk to their health and life. According to the scientist, the area should have been divided into several levels. The latter were alternately provided with at least minimal sanitary standards, and channels for timely removal of sewage were brought to them. Water using a hydraulic apparatus was to provide each building with water. Unfortunately, no state funds were allocated for the construction of the miracle city.
7. Self-propelled cart
The invention is jokingly compared with the prototype of the first historical car, and also a drone. Drawings of the contraption are not entirely perfect, therefore, in our time, engineers can only speculate what made it move. One of the guesses was that the cart movement was provided by a spring mechanism of the type of watch (supposedly it could be started by hand). The steering wheel, theoretically, was programmed with special blocks in the gear chain.
Also, the imperfection of the product was that it could turn only to the right.
6. Tank
I did not disdain Da Vinci and military developments, presenting the project of a real armored tank. Outwardly, the transport was supposed to resemble a “turtle”, in which there were 8 strong men with 36 guns. The squire was protected by the outer shell.
The tank itself consisted of sequential gears. To advance straight, the front ones had to rotate opposite from the rear ones, which would actually not give any movement. Historians suggest that the genius of his era can not reproduce such a fatal mistake, so in my heart I did not want to give way to my dangerous brainchild.
5. Diving suit
Da Vinci’s concept of destroying enemy watercraft included the creation of special diving suits for swimmers and saboteurs. In them, brave guys could breathe using an underwater "dome" with air. People wore masks with glass niches through which it is possible to contemplate what is happening under water. Another version of the costume is the use of wine bottles instead of the dome, which are also filled with air. At the same time, the scientist suggested that the swimmers “arm themselves” with some containers in which they can urinate while being under water for a long time.
It is noteworthy that the miraculous costumes were created really, but did not find application, since the fleet of Venice successfully defeated the invaders without the need for underwater "partisanism".
4. The machine gun
Of course, this invention is significantly different from modern weapons. For example, it was not capable of quickly throwing bullets from the barrel - volleys of muskets were issued at short intervals. If the concept were implemented, then the attacking infantry of the enemy would be effectively stopped.
The mechanism of work is simple. The scientist assumed the union of 11 guns on a rectangular plane, and then 3 such planes combined into a triangle. In the middle was a shaft that allowed you to twist the structure. In turn, each set of 11 weapons began to shoot, while the other 2 recharged and cooled down.
3. Ornithopter
The theme of flights is traced in the research activities of Leonardo. So an ornithopter was born - an assembly for transferring a person to airspace. The scientist’s parachute already allowed to accelerate from a height and smoothly plan down, and the ornithopter could allow for some time to soar above the surface.
Visually, the device resembled a bird or a bat, but least of all an airplane. The wings should begin to move after the pilot turns the handle.
As it turned out, the scientist was really strong in aerodynamics, since in the case of implementing the concept, the ornithopter could really fly.
2. Parachute
It is Leonardo Da Vinci who holds the primacy in the implementation of this necessary rescue device. All his life, the scientist was guided by the idea of flying people conquering airspace like birds. His parachute was supposed to help the pilot at least drift for some time without a threat to life.
The device had a pyramidal shape, consisted of strong fabric. In the 21st century, the device was really built exactly according to the scheme of the scientist and confirmed that even in the 15th century it would really fulfill its protective function.
1. Bearing
Small ball bearings provide movement of drive shafts, are used in conveyor systems, and in general are used in almost every movable mechanism.
Many attribute the primacy of the idea of the bearing to Da Vinci, and it is not unreasonable, since in his notebook was a mock-up of the part with a description and notes. And many other scientist's ingenious devices, albeit not implemented, already provided for the use of a bearing in the model.
Unfortunately, in the 15th century, the attitude towards scientists was the same as now: the lack of subsidies for amazing inventions, misunderstanding by the crowd, the desire to hide ingenious developments by higher authorities. It is unfortunate that the thinker did not have enough independent resources for the implementation of projects, otherwise he could really change the world!