Crazy Contraptions At The Corner Café
What would the world be like without contraptions? Humans have invented so many things - good and not so good - that have shaped this world of ours. From the major breakthrough that was the invention of the wheel, humans have used their ingenuity to create things for practical use or entertainment.
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction that incorporates technology inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.
There are lots of Steampunk conventions all over the world - the largest of which is held in Lincoln, UK at the end of August each year.
Leonardo Da Vinci was a superb artist and inventor, who was far ahead of his time. He did drawings of and made models of contraptions that only became reality in most recent times - like his aerial screw, which inspired the helicopter.
Da Vinci’s original drawings of the aerial screw.
Da Vinci’s self-propelled cart was powered by coiled springs and it also featured steering and brake capabilities. When the brake was released, the car would propel itself forward, and the steering was programmable to go either straight or at pre-set angles.
It was so ahead of its time that its exact workings baffled scholars until late in the 20th century. But, in 2006, Italy’s Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence built a working model based on Leonardo’s design and the cart actually worked. Some experts even noted that it looked similar to the Mars Land Rover.
To read more about Leonardo’s ideas and inventions, see this article.
Testing any invention can often be very tricky!
The Terrafugia Transition, a flying car that actually flies!
Medical robots are now taking much of the strain in operating theatres.
If you want, why not share some thoughts on contraptions, inventions, robots etc… what you love or hate about them and the impact they have had on us and this world!
All are welcome. And please feel free to recommend and share all discussions you enjoy.
There is no obligation to follow any of our informal themes. They are simply for fun. This is an open topic chat thread, so please just post or talk about anything you like!
