Automation of the Leonardo da Vinci Machines

Leonardo da Vinci inventions and projects represent an intriguing starting point to remark the concept that innovation must be considered as a continuous route towards evolution in history. Some of the particular ideas and innovations presented by Leonardo da Vinci led us to formulate a link with automatic control. Selected models of the Leonardo da Vinci machines are presented in this paper, taking strictly into account the original mechanical schemes and working principles, but introducing modern low-cost control equipment, emphasizing the role of automatic control and that of electronic control devices, such as microcontrollers, sensors, and communication devices, to completely automate the Leonardo da Vinci machines. The approach outlined in the paper can be applied not only to other Leonardo machines but also to other mechanical equipment not necessarily designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Moreover, it is useful to remark that the approach followed in this paper can be very important also to introduce students, leading by example, to concepts typical of automation and for assisting in learning, keeping in mind the practical applications of advanced automation principles. The main research task of this paper is proving the efficacy of modern digital control techniques and teleoperation in strongly classical mechanical Leonardo machines, remarking that the projects of Leonardo are prompt to be efficiently controlled. This task could not be explored by Leonardo himself due to the lack of control technology. Moreover, the paper is addressed also to stimulate the young generations of engineers in joining classical mechanics with advanced technology. Therefore, the paper is also devoted to give focus on the fact that the Leonardo machines encompass all the key aspects of modern system engineering.

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Towards Regional and Economic Development

Industry and Higher Education ◽

10.5367/000000001101295470 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 42-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thore Thomassen ◽

Peter Beckus ◽

Ieva Serapinaite

Keyword(s):

Da Vinci ◽

Regional Cooperation ◽

Low Cost ◽

Leonardo Da Vinci ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Bilateral Agreement ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

Research Programmes ◽

Training Research ◽

Further Development

Networking is an effective strategy for both economic and regional development, as the results of project management at the trans-regional level demonstrate. Cooperation between the Western Norway Training Partnership (WNTP) and Erfurt Technology Centre (TZE) shows that international teamwork is productive and that project administration is relatively low-cost. Both partners have carried out various projects within the European Commission's COMETT, Leonardo Da Vinci and Fifth Framework Research programmes. Seven years of cooperation between WNTP and TZE have resulted not only in increased awareness about both regions in political, academic and business circles, but also in the establishment of the Trade House, to increase exports, as well as the completion of a Bilateral Agreement of Regional Cooperation for further development of activities and contacts. Inter-regional and inter-sectoral links with local authorities, financial funds, research institutes, innovation centres and non-governmental organizations have been established to explore further possibilities for cooperation in training, research, business and culture. In this paper, the partners share experiences, analyse implications and discuss strategies that bring mutual benefits.

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The Miraculous Left Hand – On Leonardo da Vinci and the Search for a Common Understanding of Man and Nature

European Review ◽

10.1017/s1062798712000282 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 10-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jens Erik Fenstad

Keyword(s):

Da Vinci ◽

Leonardo Da Vinci ◽

Left Hand ◽

Starting Point ◽

Man And Nature ◽

Mind And Brain ◽

The Mind ◽

The Brain ◽

Common Understanding ◽

Broad Understanding

Is a common approach to knowledge about man and nature possible? With Leonardo da Vinci as our starting point we will explore this question. Leonardo was much more than a painter; he was a sharp observer of man and nature. What he saw (structures) and what he did (using his miraculous left hand as syntax) was translated into insights and methods of constructions as recorded in his notebooks. His view was holistic, as witnessed by his study of the eye; from the anatomy of the eye he proceeded outwards to a theory of perspective, and inwards to an understanding how perception and the mind are grounded in the brain. In this we see similarities to current studies of language, mind and brain. It is possible to see a kind of proto-version of the art and science of mathematical modelling in Leonardo. This is a methodology of wide scope, extending far beyond physics and engineering. With a sufficiently broad understanding of the key concepts of structure, syntax and algorithms we have a method strong enough to allow for a common approach to knowledge of man and nature, to what there is and how we know.

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Inside and outside the landscape

Archaeological Dialogues ◽

10.1017/s1380203800000751 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 176-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Peter Attema

Keyword(s):

Survey Methodology ◽

Da Vinci ◽

A Priori ◽

Central Italy ◽

Leonardo Da Vinci ◽

Inside Information ◽

Landscape Unit ◽

Starting Point ◽

Mediterranean Regions ◽

Insight Into

This paper on perceptions of the Pontine Region in Central Italy starts out with a discussion of a map by the Renaissance artist and engineer Leonardo da Vinci which he made of the Pontine marshes in the early 16th century A.D. Since this map is the earliest rendering known of this former wetland, it is an important document for the reconstruction of the wet areas of the Pontine Region, a landscape unit that falls within the wider survey area of the Pontine Region Project.1 The example shows how deconstruction of historical documents, whether texts or maps, is a prerequisite for an understanding of how landscapes were differently perceived over time. After all we perceive what we want to see. A valid interpretation of Da Vincis's map for archaeological purposes requires, however, insight into both the context of the map and the way in which Leonardo da Vinci handled landscapes in his work. I discuss the map to demonstrate how archaeologists using historical and ethnographical documents run the risk of dealing with ‘outsider’ information whilst thinking they are dealing with sources that take them right inside the landscape, i.e. into the landscape of its past inhabitants. To avoid the pitfall of perceiving what one wants to see, the archaeologist is recommended to obtain insight into the various historical perceptions of his study area. I cite some instances from my work that show how it is possible to extract inside information from ‘outsider’ maps and texts concerning the Pontine Region. It is argued that such inside information is needed to complement Mediterranean survey methodology if the discipline is to develop landscape perception models of Mediterranean regions in antiquity that are not based on a priori notions. The delineation of preference surfaces in the landscape such as forwarded by the archaeological record, is proposed as a starting point for reconstructions of past collective perceptions.

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Replication of Internal Biological Surfaces

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100094802 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. 308-309

Author(s):

J. A. Nowell ◽

J. Pangborn ◽

W. S. Tyler

Keyword(s):

Da Vinci ◽

Leonardo Da Vinci ◽

Rat Lung ◽

Tubular Structures ◽

Cerebral Ventricles ◽

Internal Surfaces ◽

Biological Surfaces ◽

Dog Kidney ◽

Lung And Kidney ◽

Scanning Electron

Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century, used injection replica techniques to study internal surfaces of the cerebral ventricles. Developments in replicating media have made it possible for modern morphologists to examine injection replicas of lung and kidney with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Deeply concave surfaces and interrelationships to tubular structures are difficult to examine with the SEM. Injection replicas convert concavities to convexities and tubes to rods, overcoming these difficulties.Batson's plastic was injected into the renal artery of a horse kidney. Latex was injected into the pulmonary artery and cementex in the trachea of a cat. Following polymerization the tissues were removed by digestion in concentrated HCl. Slices of dog kidney were aldehyde fixed by immersion. Rat lung was aldehyde fixed by perfusion via the trachea at 30 cm H2O. Pieces of tissue 10 x 10 x 2 mm were critical point dried using CO2. Selected areas of replicas and tissues were coated with silver and gold and examined with the SEM.

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