From conceptualising the first self propelled cart to a flying machine, artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci was way ahead of his time. But did you know that the Italian polymath created what could possibly be the first humanoid?
Known as Leonardo’s mechanical knight, the humanoid in medieval armour was believed to be designed by da Vinci around the year 1495. The design notes for the robot appear in sketchbooks that were rediscovered in the 1950s.
Da Vinci, known for his accurate research on human anatomy and for his drawing of the Vitruvian Man, applied his knowledge of the workings of the human body to develop the robot.
How it worked
Operated by a series of pulleys and cables, the robotic knight could allegedly sit, stand, raise its visor and even manoeuvre its arms and work its jaw. Da Vinci is believed to have displayed the knight at the court of Milan in 1495.
After the discovery of the sketchbook the robot was built faithfully sticking to da Vinci’s design by robotics expert Mark Rosheim in 2002 and was found to be fully functional. Some of the concepts behind it were subsequently used by Rosheim for designing planetary exploration robots to be used by NASA.
Who was Leonardo da Vinci?
Da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy. Although he did not receive any formal education, da Vinci learnt engineering, science and mathematics on his own. When he was 15, his father Piero Fruosino di Antonio sent him to apprentice under a noted sculptor and painter, Andrea del Verrocchio of Florence. Under Verrocchio’s tutelage, da Vinci refined his painting and sculpting techniques and also trained in mechanical arts.
Da Vinci created workable designs for the bicycle, helicopter, submarine and the military tank that would not come to fruition for centuries. Many of his notebooks with observations and neatly drawn illustrations have helped scientists understand human anatomy, flight mechanics and architecture.
In 1499, da Vinci fled to Venice and then to Florence, following political turmoil in his hometown. The Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper” were some of his masterpieces. Da Vinci died on May 2, 1519.
DA VINCI’S DESIGNS THAT WERE NEVER BUILT
Flying machine: Modelled after the anatomy of birds and bats, the machine featured a pair of enormous wings connected to a wooden frame inside of which a pilot could lie facedown and move the wings up and down
Armoured vehicle: It could be used to thwart the enemy in battle. The invention consisted of a wagon propelled by manpower and covered in sheets of metal. Slits in the metal would allow soldiers to shoot their weapons without being struck by enemy fire.
Diving suit: Constructed almost entirely of leather, da Vinci’s suit consisted of a jacket, pants and a mask inlaid with glass goggles. According to his notes, air could be stored in a bulge in the leather jacket to allow for underwater breathing.
Picture Credit : Google
