Fun and/or Interesting
Leonardo Da Vinci's Surprisingly Modern Inventions
The parachute is only one of many inventions attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci that seem to have more to do with modern technology than that of the Renaissance. A few examples…
* the aerial screw – which presages the helicopter, or at least the concept of vertical flight
* the ornithopter – which demonstrates an understanding of aerodynamics fundamental to the development of aviation
* the robot – not in the modern sense, but a self-operating automaton that was capable of moving without human aid/intervention
* the machine gun – a 33-barrelled thing, nothing like the modern machine gun but notable for introducing the concept of a rapid-fire weapon
* the diving suit – strikingly similar to early prototypes of the modern diving suit
(Source: HistoryLists.com)