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526 Years On, Da Vinci's Clockwork Car Constructed

Posted by timothy on from the bright-fella dept.

SimianOverlord writes "The Guardian (and several other news outlets) report on the attempt by Professor Paulo Galluci and his team to build a working model of Leonard Da Vinci's clockwork powered car, designed in 1478. Previous attempts have been made to create the vehicle, but they failed to work properly. This is thought to be due to a misunderstanding of the original design, which is corrected in the new model. Apart from the 1/3 scale replica, the team have also made a full size model but have not dared to test it. Professor Galluzzi explained "It is a very powerful machine. It could run into something and do serious damage.""

54 of 402 comments (clear)

  1. fascinating by msim · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's taken them long enough to figure it out.

    I guess that 2 things can be learned from this
    1) Da Vinci was a genius ahead of his own time
    2) Document your frigging drawings! were not all mind readers ya know!

    --

    Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know when your gonna get food poisoning.
    1. Re:fascinating by natrius · · Score: 5, Funny

      The fact that his drawings weren't commented is what tipped us off to his genius in the first place. Everyone knows smart people don't comment.

    2. Re:fascinating by LordK3nn3th · · Score: 3, Flamebait

      By your logic the windows source code should be documented to all hell, while the linux source code has roughly three comments in it.

      --

      ---
      Never criticize religion on Slashdot. You will be modded down for "Troll" no matter how factual it is.
    3. Re:fascinating by geekoid · · Score: 4, Funny


      top 2 things overheard in Da Vinci's lab:

      "Even a simplten with a mere IQ of 210 will be able to understand these drawings, no need to document"

      "Surely, everybody will want to read my writing as if they are looking into a mirror."

      top 2 things heard in developers cubes:
      "If it's hard to write, it should be hard to read"

      "My code is self documenting"

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    4. Re:fascinating by endx7 · · Score: 3, Funny

      "My code is self documenting"

      Hey, not all of us are cobol programmers!

    5. Re:fascinating by E_elven · · Score: 3, Funny
      Seen in actual code
      // |/| 4 1 (| |/| 3-3 _| + + 1 _| 0 + '| 3 =| =| |_| 8 3 |-| +
      // 2 |V| '| 0 =| 2 |/| 4 '| + |/| 0 1 + ) |/| |_| =| 2 1 |-| +
      void to_little_endian(void * buffer) {
      ...
      --
      Marxist evolution is just N generations away!
    6. Re:fascinating by Niet3sche · · Score: 4, Interesting

      DaVinci was a genius, yes. However, I am no longer so inclined to say that he was ahead of his time. Quite a bit of our current view of the "backward-thinking" dark/middle ages comes about from (can't remember his name now - he wrote "Sleepy Hollow"). Also, they apparently KNEW the world was round - Columbus did NOT make that discovery, and it was NOT against Church doctrine. I caught a program by Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame) [I believe] and he was going through and outlining this. It was really an amazing insight into the time. So ... they were actually NOT the "backward savages" that we're inclined to believe, nor was the Church such a crushingly obtuse entity with respect to science - seems it was in its best interest to encourage people to check out and unravel God's workings - to get to better know the mind of God. Sooooo ... it was a great program, anyway.

    7. Re:fascinating by Seekerofknowledge · · Score: 5, Informative
      // |/| 4 1 (| |/| 3-3 _| + + 1 _| 0 + '| 3 =| =| |_| 8 3 |-| +
      // 2 |V| '| 0 =| 2 |/| 4 '| + |/| 0 1 + ) |/| |_| =| 2 1 |-| +
      void to_little_endian(void * buffer) {

      Whew, I finally figured out what that said. It only took about 5 mins, a mirror, and some head-scratching.

      For all of those who don't have a mirror handy, or are too lazy (who are we kidding :), it says:

      the buffer to little-endian
      this function transforms


      One more thing:
      I guess this function knows how big a buffer to convert? I mean, is it converting some words to little-endian or dwords? hmm, what about 64-bit ints? Doesn't seem very clear. I hope this didn't come out of the Linux kernel :P
    8. Re:fascinating by kfg · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Particularly smart people before the advent of a patent system.

      Once upon a time, in a New World far, far away from it's cultural origins, there arose a new nation, founded by men who thought very hard about what they were doing and, for the most part, got things pretty right (there are always men who think only of their own benefit who muck up the system).

      Thomas Jefferson got the patent system pretty right, and while things were under his direct control the system worked very well and Leonardo (had he come to America) would have felt free to publish and comment without fear, and the public would not have had to wait hundreds of years for his ideas to become freely available to them. This system actually stood as a model for the world for 100 years.

      But extraordinary men are always replaced by lesser men.

      Patents are not the problem. Patents are the solution to a problem that most people have forgotten existed. Except, perhaps, those trying to create corporeal versions of Leonardo's drawings.

      The problem is protectionism bolstered by greed. Congress, of course, is supposed to represent the people in creating systems that allow the people to engage in profit making enterprises without abrogating the rights of the people.

      But congress, for the most part, is made up of these lesser men, driven by protectionism and greed.

      "What if you were an idiot? And what if you were a member of congress? But I repeat myself." --Mark Twain.

      KFG

    9. Re:fascinating by Radical+Rad · · Score: 5, Interesting
      "Even a simplten with a mere IQ of 210 will be able to understand these drawings, no need to document"

      I saw somewhere that DaVinci purposely put flaws into his drawings as a type of copy protection. Only another genius would be able to see the flaw and build the device correctly. This would come in handy if his plans were stolen or captured since many of his designs were commissioned for siege craft.

    10. Re:fascinating by black+mariah · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I've been trying to explain this to people for years. When handled properly, patents are in the best interest of everyone. Leonardo had to have other ways of protecting his work, namely his weird code.

      --
      'Standards' in computing only impress those who are impressed by things like 'standards'.
    11. Re:fascinating by kfg · · Score: 5, Insightful

      In fact, my experience is that only another genius would recognize that the work of a genius could have flaws that require correcting.

      Most people are sheep and blindly follow "the directions," even when those directions result in nonfunctioning items. They blame the nonfunctionality on themselves, rather than on the design.

      Hence the notations you'll find on many processed food products these days, "You'll find that this might taste good with a little cheese on it. Or maybe some salt." They have to be told to "think outside the box," as it were. Many people get all weird about the idea of even modifying a published recipe. The published version is the "correct" version in their minds. Perhaps this phemonenon is a good part of why some people get all weird about the idea of open source software. They need to feel that out there, somewhere, is a definatively "correct" version, handed down from the mountain engraved on stone tablets by some programing god or other.

      Most people who play classical music play it as if they were some sort of flawed mechanism in a player piano whose function is to reproduce the markings on the paper as closely, and mechanically, as possible.

      The musical genius recognizes that the markings on the paper are one genius talking to another genius, saying, "Hey, look at this idea," and interprets the music.

      KFG

    12. Re:fascinating by no+longer+myself · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Most people are sheep and blindly follow "the directions," even when those directions result in nonfunctioning items. They blame the nonfunctionality on themselves, rather than on the design.

      I will disagree on one point. The sheep these days never accept blame, and make claim that the designer was an idiot, and it's obviously just junk.

      And I do agree with your point about OSS. Many times it would almost take a genious to follow those directions to the letter, but even if you did, it would most likely fail. You have to think on your feet to spot little details for your particular situation (as everyone has their own unique situation) and make adjustments.

      The musical genius recognizes that the markings on the paper are one genius talking to another genius, saying, "Hey, look at this idea," and interprets the music.

      That reminds me of Mozart's "Ein musikalischer Spass". Only now people are starting to realize the true genious behind it. Ironic that any "bird brain" could have figured it out. ;-)

      Naturally, I'm partial to jokes... even subtle ones.

    13. Re:fascinating by fenix+down · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Although he certaintly encoded his work on things other than weapons, mostly after he got old, his defense contractor work is most of what's encoded. Leonardo didn't give a shit about intellectual property, he had patrons. He didn't have to worry about the artist down the block stealing his animatronic kight design and taking over his contract with Wal-Mart. He got paid even when he didn't produce anything, which is actually what happened most of the time, and why he changed patrons more often than he changed his underwear.

      He encoded the tanks and the ballistas and everything in case the wrong guy wanted to build them. He encoded other things for his own reasons, but he never encoded anything because he was afraid that Italian noblemen would start paying for the bragging rights of having the guy who ripped off Da Vinci stay in the guest house.

    14. Re:fascinating by kfg · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And the modern term for "patron" is "employer."

      In the case of the machinery of warfare the federal government often takes the place of the Lord, as they stand in much the same relationship to one another.

      The government often employs its own patent systems to protect the ideas embodied in its war machines, since those 'secrets' never remain secret very long after a device is actually produced.

      Perhaps that's an underlying reason why governments have been so willing to extend the protections of patents beyond all normal reason.

      KFG

    15. Re:fascinating by LilGuy · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Reminds me of grade school. No matter which class, there would always be some kid sitting next to me, peeking over at my paper. I'd act like I didn't notice/care, but secretly mark wrong answers. As soon as they finished their test, I'd go back and change them to the right answers.

      I fooled kids for many years that way. No one ever confronted me as to why I always had a higher grade than they did.
      Served them right.

      --

      You're nothing; like me.
    16. Re:fascinating by operagost · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Four corners = four compass directions. Like the phrase "you say that I am," it's an ancient expression that modern people like to misinterpret.

      Stars = shooting stars.
      Since Hebrew doesn't have the word "meteor", it would have been difficult to have it any other way.

      Your mention of pi equaling three proves that you are just another atheist parroting an oft-repeated fallacy - because it's not God that creates the "sea" (the bowl or tub) but Solomon. Number one, since all the measurements of the bowl are given in round figures, there's no way pi would every pop up exactly. Number two, they were probably measuring the outside circumference of the bowl. Since the rim is described as opening like a "lily blossom", this measurement would have resulted in numbers that were slightly "off".

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    17. Re:fascinating by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      A food preparer follows the recipie.. a Great chef looks at the recipie for the general idea, throws it aside and then creates the meal.

      Great Chef's also are extremely happy to tell you all about that meal, even the ingredients and enough information that another chef can reproduce it very well, if not exactly.. althoguh the taste will still be different as you cannot recreate the chef's steps exactly... not even the great chef can reproduce his creations exactly.

      The Best minds in the world are happy to share with you how it was done... it is the no talent hacks with something to hide that favor hiding everything from view.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  2. Turns only to the right? by bearl · · Score: 5, Funny

    A programmable steering mechanism allows it go straight, or turn at pre-set angles. But only to the right.

    To the right? That's of no use! Reprogram that sucker to turn left and send it to NASCAR.

    1. Re:Turns only to the right? by LostCluster · · Score: 3, Funny

      The reason why they turn to the left in NASCAR is because that turn creates a downward force on the car. A right turn at such a high speed create an upward force, and could risk the cars loosing grip with the pavement which would send a car straight toward the wall at the curve.

    2. Re:Turns only to the right? by YU+Nicks+NE+Way · · Score: 3, Funny

      No, that's only true in the Northern hemisphere. It's the other way around down South.

    3. Re:Turns only to the right? by CrowScape · · Score: 4, Informative

      They can make that claim, but it wouldn't be true, as the first computer predated Da Vinci by about 1500 years. It's called the Antikythera Device which could calculate the positions of the sun, moon and planets.

      --
      common sense: noun
      What those who are ignorant of the subject matter think; usually wrong.
  3. Clockwork Car? by haRDon · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if it'll get you to work on time?

    1. Re:Clockwork Car? by nacturation · · Score: 4, Funny

      And what about the colors... does it come in Clockwork Orange?

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
  4. Impressive.... by Yoda2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...but the real headline will be when someone successfully pilots one of his flying machines!

    1. Re:Impressive.... by electrichamster · · Score: 5, Interesting

      This has been done - There was a programme on Channel 4 (UK) about three weeks ago in which they successfully built his glider and flew it. It flew very well, although it was apparently like nothing that currently exists with regards to handling, and it had no yaw (I think thats the word) at all.

  5. Is it just me... by Chmcginn · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Or does it seem like there must be something else going on that makes them not want to test their model. Consider:
    The springs are wound up by rotating the wheels in the opposite direction to the one in which it is meant to go.

    "It is a very powerful machine," Professor Galluzzi said. So powerful that although they have made a full-scale "production model", they have not dared test it. "It could run into something and do serious damage," he said.

    If the springs are wound by rotating in the opposite direction... why not just wind it up only a few meters in the middle of a large parking lot? Can't go any further than you wind it...
    --
    Have you been touched by his noodly appendage?
    1. Re:Is it just me... by physicsphairy · · Score: 4, Insightful
      If the springs are wound by rotating in the opposite direction... why not just wind it up only a few meters in the middle of a large parking lot? Can't go any further than you wind it...

      Well, yes it can. As a matter of fact, it can go arbitrarily far with arbitrary impulse, depending on the mechanism inside it that stores the energy. (There are, of course, technological limitations and some limitations of physical law on the extreme end)

      You don't know how much energy it takes to wind this thing back a few meters. It could easily be tend times the energy required to move it forward a few meters. Think of a cross bow. You only "wind" the bow back a fraction of a meter at most. Does in any way limit the distance the bolt will fly to just a fraction of a meter?

      --
      When things get complex, multiply by the complex conjugate.
    2. Re:Is it just me... by TummyX · · Score: 5, Funny

      Perhaps they don't want to depreciate the value of the car by increasing the milage on the clock.

    3. Re:Is it just me... by fenix+down · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think there probably is, and I think you spell it "giant-ass springs held in place by nothing but Rennaisance-era carpentry."

      "Ok, guys, just keep pulling it back, yeah, keep going, keep going, keep..."
      *FWOING*
      "Oh, Jesus, he's got an arm off!"

      That can't be good for the university's insurace rates.

  6. It can only turn right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess DaVinci agrees that we should be Left Hand Drive...

  7. Not on the road? by dankney · · Score: 5, Funny
    "It is a very powerful machine. It could run into something and do serious damage."

    And the SUV that nearly killed me this morning isn't?

    The real reason it isn't on the road is government regulation. There needs to be a 10-year rigorous testing project to make sure it meets federal emmission standards.

  8. I can't wait... by lewko · · Score: 5, Funny

    Until homeless bums jump in front of your clockwork car at traffic lights, start cranking and then demand five bucks...

    --
    Do you or your partner snore? - Visit www.snoring.com.au
  9. that's nothing... by physicsphairy · · Score: 5, Funny

    I will soon complete a modern version of Da Vinci's nuclear breeder reactor as soon as I can find a wood cog that decelerates neutron emissions.

    --
    When things get complex, multiply by the complex conjugate.
  10. A clockwork... by paul248 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was going to say a witty pun related to "A Clockwork Orange," but I couldn't think of anything that rhymes with it...

  11. The secret has been revieled by geekoid · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Make obscure drawings the kind of look like what you are thinkging of
    2) Don't document, allow other to figure it out
    3)Profit!

    wait, that would be management.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  12. Interesting feature... by schmink182 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Open top three-wheeler. 2004 reg. Italian design and craftsmanship. Zero mpg. No emissions. Easy parking. Programmable steering
    (Emphasis mine)

    Not to pick nits, but shouldn't it have infinite miles per gallon? Zero miles per gallon implies that, no matter how much gas you put in it, it'll never go anywhere.

    1. Re:Interesting feature... by Nimrangul · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Exactly. How's the gas supposed to wind the mechanism? I suppose if it's a watermill design it may get some crummy milage out of it, but that's the only benefit I can see out of gassing it.

      --
      I'm sick of following my dreams - I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later.
  13. Picture of car by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 5, Interesting
    For those who don't want to RTFA and just want to see what it looks like:

    Enjoy.

    If anybody happens to have a link to a picture of the actual plans, I would be QUITE interested in getting a look at those.

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    1. Re:Picture of car by chevybowtie · · Score: 5, Informative

      For a hires version, try here

  14. If Da Vinci had a 386?? by malia8888 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    From the article A programmable steering mechanism allows it go straight, or turn at pre-set angles. But only to the right. Good in towns like today's Florence, with a one-way system. As ever, Leonardo was centuries ahead of his time.

    Imagine if Da Vinci's genius would have been amplified by the use of computers--CAD simulations; and computation. He could have accomplished even more than his prodigious list of both scientific and artistic accomplishments.

    --
    Harpo Tunnel Syndrome--my wrist feels funny.
  15. renaissance hazard by tunabomber · · Score: 4, Funny

    "It is a very powerful machine. It could run into something and do serious damage." ...and to make things worse, they also successfully reconstructed Da Vinci's design for a clockwork cell phone.

    --

    pi = 3.141592653589793helpimtrappedinauniversefactory71 ...
  16. Da Vinci bike by John+Harrison · · Score: 4, Funny

    I made a Da Vinci bicycle my freshman year out of wood. Got a lot of odd looks riding it around campus. It was also quite loud. When I left at the year of the year I locked it to a bike rack and it wasn't there when I got back. If you ever see someone riding around Palo Alto on a primitive wooden bicycle knock them off it for me!

    --
    Lasers Controlled Games!
  17. Found a picture by insanechemist · · Score: 5, Informative

    Was curious about the drawing and found a copy here (Google cache)

    --
    I thought it was a good idea
    1. Re:Found a picture by steveha · · Score: 4, Informative

      Clickable link:

      http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/l/leonardo/12engine /4device3.html

      You can click on the drawing and get a toolbar that lets you resize it, even past 100%. It's convenient.

      Straight to the drawing:

      http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/art/l/leonardo/12engine/ 4device3.jpg

      No toolbar, but if you click the drawing you zoom it to 100% size.

      steveha

      --
      lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
  18. Here is an official explanation by geekoid · · Score: 4, Funny

    of that guys post here

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  19. Here is a pic of the machine.... by cowmix · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/automobile/

  20. poor performance by Arctic+Dragon · · Score: 4, Funny

    "The wooden models spring forward several meters (yards) after a pair of back wheels are wound up, much like a kid's car zooms forward after the wheels are revved up against a surface."

    Only several meters? Not a very quick machine, I imagine. A Supra rear wing and a dozen Type-R stickers would surely help.

  21. How do they know they got it right? by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 5, Insightful
    My understanding is that people have tried to build this thing before, and failed.

    So we assume that because DaVinci was such a genius, this failure must be due to people failing to understand his design. Bright people then try to figure out what he could have meant.

    It seems to me there is a very real possibility that what we actually have is a new design by those bright people, somewhat inspired by DaVinci's ideas.

    1. Re:How do they know they got it right? by NSash · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It's well-known that he built subtle flaws into many of his designs. It was a common practice of inventors before patents were created: he alone knew the "mistakes" he had introduced, and could easily fix them, but anyone else who stole his notes would spend a long time making something that would never run.

      (One example is the mechanical lion he built for the king of Spain. If you build it exactly as described in his design, it is impossible for it to move: its gears turn against each other. Yet DaVinci did build it, and it worked.)

  22. If daVinci were alive today he'd say... by geekoid · · Score: 4, Funny

    "HELP!,HELP!, I'm trapped in some sort of box!"

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    1. Re:If daVinci were alive today he'd say... by Ravenrage · · Score: 3, Funny

      na he'd say "aiuto!, aiuto!, Sono bloccato in una certa specie della scatola!."

  23. The gas companies... by dawg+ball · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... must be worried.

    --
    The Erogenous Zone
  24. Safety concerns? by mdielmann · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How can you tell this car was built by academics? They spend god knows how many hours building a car out of wood, from purposely obfuscated plans that are half a thousand years old, and have never heard of the Utah salt flats. I mean come on, they test rocket cars there! Do they really think a giant wind-up toy is going to do better than that?

    --
    Sure I'm paranoid, but am I paranoid enough?