Academy 18129 Da Vinci Series - Self Propelling Cart

Academy Da Vinci Series - Self Propelling Cart

ACA-18129

Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian polymath painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, botanist and writer. Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance man, a man whose unquenchable curiosity was equaled only by his powers of invention. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived.

Leonardo was also revered for his technological ingenuity. He conceptualized, among many others, a helicopter, a tank, a paddleboat, a self-propelling cart, concentrated solar power, a calculator, the double hull and outlined a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics. Relatively few of his designs were constructed or were even feasible during his lifetime, but some of his smaller inventions, such as an automated bobbin winder and a machine for testing the tensile strength of wire, entered the world of manufacturing unheralded. As a scientist, he greatly advanced the state of knowledge in the fields of anatomy, civil engineering, optics, and hydrodynamics.

The Self Propelling Cart was possibly the first robot in history and was probably designed to bring self-moving characters on to the stage in theatrical productions. It was designed to be a visual wonder for those who saw it. It was to be spring-powered where the cart would be pushed backwards to wind up the spring, then when the brakes were released, it would move forward. As the mechanism unwound, blocks in the drive would shift the pivoting front wheel to shift its direction periodically.

Includes step by step instructions. No glue, paint, tools or batteries are necessary.