Things Invented By Leonardo Da Vinci
Indian Express
Centuries before helicopters, scuba gear, and machine guns became reality, Leonardo da Vinci was sketching ideas that seemed straight out of science fiction.
Through meticulous notebooks filled with engineering concepts, the Renaissance master imagined technologies far beyond his era. Here are six of his most visionary inventions.
The Aerial Screw: Leonardo's famous "aerial screw" is often considered the ancestor of the helicopter. The design featured a giant spiral rotor made of linen that, in theory, would compress air and lift the machine off the ground. (wikimedia commons: citron)
The Armoured Tank: Leonardo designed a circular armoured vehicle covered in metal plating and equipped with cannons around its perimeter. Though impractical with the technology of the time, it anticipated modern armoured tanks by centuries. (Wikimedia commons)
The Diving Suit: Created for potential naval warfare, Leonardo's diving suit consisted of a leather outfit connected to breathing tubes and an air supply. It would have allowed divers to remain underwater for extended periods. (the history of art)
The Giant Crossbow: Known as the "ballista," this enormous weapon was designed to launch projectiles over long distances. Stretching more than 80 feet wide, it was intended as much for psychological warfare as for battlefield use. (wikimedia commons)
The Mechanical Knight: One of Leonardo's most remarkable concepts was a robotic knight powered by pulleys, gears, and cables. According to his plans, the machine could sit, stand, move its arms, and turn its head—making it one of history's earliest humanoid robots. (wikimedia commons)
The Triple-Barrelled Machine Gun: To overcome the slow reloading times of Renaissance firearms, Leonardo envisioned a multi-barrelled weapon arranged in rows. While not a true machine gun, it represented an early attempt at rapid fire artillery. (wikimedia commons)