Leonardo da Vinci's ingenious inventions

A selection of interesting and ingenious inventions by Leonardo da Vinci.

Parachute.





Over the years, the artist drew many flying machines based on the mechanisms of birds, but to no avail – almost all of them failed to fly. But the parachute actually worked. In 2000, Adrian Niklas successfully descended from an altitude of 3,000 meters using da Vinci's inventions.

Propeller (helicopter).



Despite its inability to take off, the drawing became a source of inspiration for the creators of rotorcraft.

Vitruvian Man





Leonardo da Vinci believed that every part of a whole should be proportional to the whole. This rule applied to both humans and animals. Inspired by the work of the ancient Greek architect Vitruvius, who developed specific proportions, the artist created his own version of ideal human proportions, known as the Vitruvian Man.

Lifebuoy



Leonardo's sketch depicting a very modern lifebuoy. It's unclear what materials he planned to use, but he was clearly drawn to the theme of water safety. "Floods will surpass all other destructive disasters," the scientist wrote. "Rivers overflowing their banks will cause them."