Engineering & the Profession: Leonardo Da Vinci

Fathom a world without planes, cars, complex weaponry, accurate time, and so forth. This was the world afore Leonardo Da Vinci. Revolutionaries were in dire need of innovators and creative minds at that time. Then stepped up a man from out of the shadows to produce works that humankind has never laid their eyes upon prior. Many people claim that Da Vinci is the primary reason for why society is as technologically advanced as it is today. Debates are often stirred regarding which component of Da Vinci’s ideas had the greatest impact on the public today. Although this is a nice barbershop debate to have, each one of Leonardo’s ideas is special and unique in their own respective ways. Along these lines, all the little intricacies of his innovations ought to be acknowledged equally out of respect for the individual that was Leonardo Da Vinci. Inspiring others to take after and attempt to surpass his inventions, Leonardo Da Vinci was genuinely an inspirational man for future generations to come as today’s society is still incorporating his various ideologies in their ingenuities. Leonardo Da Vinci transformed society with his war creations, the revolving bridge, the flying machine, the robot, and with him using his various art forms to inspire a different kind of audience.

Amid the 1400s, Leonardo Da Vinci was an individual with goals and dreams. He envisioned a world in which mankind could live with ease due to the facilities at their disposal. Da Vinci got his career started by applying to become a war engineer in Milan. Essentially, by partaking in this war, his ingenuity changed the landscape of the war due to his making of the giant crossbow, and armored tank among hundreds of other productions. The giant crossbow was made utilizing wood to allow the design to bend congruously when the weapon was pulled back to fire. The crossbow was turned using another one of Leonardo’s inventions called the gear worm to launch the desired ammunition at a projected angle. This crossbow was designed with the realization that a massive weapon such as the crossbow could be a daunting challenge to face for the opponent, thus providing the mental advantage for his side. Leonardo’s illustrating abilities lead to such an idea becoming reality due to his vivid imagery involved in drawing the object. The armored car was also supposed to be a war tool designed by Da Vinci to aid his side in the war. Due to the objects massive proportions, other sides would delay in assaulting head-on. The car/tank could have moved in 360 degrees and stored a large amount of ammo. Creating such an object could also result in unnecessary violence. Numerous scientists say that his design would not have worked due to the cranks being place in the wrong direction. The reasons behind this defect in his design is said to be due to Da Vinci realizing the harm such a machine could cause if put in the wrong hands.

Even though a significant number of Da Vinci’s ideas and designs never became reality during his time, the designs made did however pave the way for future pioneers to endeavor in accomplishing his unfinished makings. The revolving bridge was meant to create ease for armies when travelling over lakes and rivers. This bridge allowed for goods to be transported with ease. Constructing this bridge required a stemming issue that needed to be solved. The issue at hand was the duration wasted by the army trying to go around obstacles such as rivers and lakes to get to the opponent. The bridge was made using many gears, pulleys and counterweights to ascertain stability while travelling over terrane. Additionally, wheels were attached to this structure to provide mobility for the bridge to be utilized at multiple locations rather than any individual one. This bridge allowed for easier attacks and retreats due to its structural design. If the enemy attempted to follow by crossing the bridge, its unique design allowed for the bridge to be disconnected from the ground and thus halting the enemy in its tracks.

Flight during the 1400s was deemed to be incomprehensible and ludicrous. Nevertheless, this never stopped an innovator such as Da Vinci from exploring the prospect of air travel. Taking a glance at designs created by Leonardo in his notebook, it is noted that he investigated designs for parachutes and studied birds to help him in cracking the case on flight. Albeit, there may not be any evidence to support Da Vinci creating any flight related objects, in 1485, he did, however, create plans for an ornithopter which would be powered by man. This may seem like a nice idea; however, it appears Da Vinci realized that humans could not draw up enough power to sustain legitimate airtime. Although his idea may have seen quite unusual, it is ideas such as the flying machine that truly show a genius at hand due to simply envisioning that such an idea could become reality. His blueprints and plans provided any reader with the belief that his ideas could become reality and is how he revolutionized the ammunition industry with his innovations during his time.

Whenever Leonardo Da Vinci is remembered, it is primarily due to famous paintings. Although this may be true, he was also an artist when it came to the replicating of human function. Da Vinci had an interest in how the human body functioned using miniscule ligaments, bones, muscle, all interconnected to engender the working and moving human being. His interest sparked him to try and recreate the human and its functions in the form of the first robotic being. His elegant illustrations provided the average scientist with the ability to be able to replicate the design. As opposed to his other makings, it was deemed that Da Vinci designed a working robot that could walk and move its jaw. Unfortunately, it appears he only used his robot during parties for entertainment purposes. To create such a piece required the artistic prowess and self-belief to be able to produce such a masterpiece.

Whenever Leonardo Da Vinci is remembered, the first thing that comes to mind is his famous paintings; the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and many more. His inspiration for painting was adopted from his father who provided his son with an apprenticeship to the famous painter at the time Andrea del Verrocchio. After years of perfecting his craft, the Mona Lisa was designed becoming what Leonardo Da Vinci is arguably most known for. The knowledge he obtained from this experience aided him to go on and produce some of the most famous art pieces to ever be seen by the human eye. All around the world today, many artists try and imitate and aspire to achieve artistic genius at the level of a Da Vinci.

Fathom a world without planes, cars, complex weaponry, accurate time, and so forth. This was the world before Leonardo Da Vinci. Revolutionaries were in dire need of innovators at that time. Then stepped up a man from out of the shadows to produce works that humankind has never laid eyes upon prior. Many people claim that Da Vinci is the primary reason for why society is as technologically advanced as it is today. Debates are often stirred about which component of Da Vinci’s ideas had the greatest impact in the public today. Although this is a nice discussion to have, each one of Leonardo’s ideas are special and unique in their own respective ways. Along these lines all features of his innovations ought to be acknowledged similarly out of respect for the individual that was Leonardo Da Vinci. Inspiring others to take after and attempt to surpass his inventions, Leonardo Da Vinci was genuinely an inspirational man for future generations to come as today’s society is still incorporating his various ideologies in their ingenuities. Leonardo Da Vinci transformed society with his war creations, the flying machine, the robot, and with him using his various art forms to inspire a different kind of audience.