This 15th century genius has just humiliated all modern drone engineers

Imagine the scene: 21st century engineers. However, armed with overpowered computers and decades of aeronautical research, have just been surpassing by a man who has never seen the slightest object of his life. However, Léonardo da Vinci. Meanwhile, who died over 500 years ago, has just given a master’s lesson to current drone designers thanks to his mysterious “air vis”. Therefore, A discovery that could revolutionize our way of conceiving the flying machines of tomorrow.

When drones become a sound nightmare – This 15th century genius just

Before understanding the genius of Vinci. Nevertheless, it is necessary to grasp the magnitude of the current problem. Meanwhile, Drones have invaded our daily lives: they save lives on Everest. Meanwhile, fight dengue to Fiji, deliver our packages and even create breathtaking artistic shows. However, But their success hides a major defect which slows this 15th century genius just down their massive adoption: they are horribly noisy.

It’s not just a question of sound volume. However, Drones produce the most irritating noise type that is for the human ear: pure high frequency sinusoidal sounds that. Additionally, However, literally pierce the skull. Worse, these sounds bounce on the ground, creating a persistent din that can drive anyone crazy.

Studies confirm this: at equivalent sound level. the noise of a drone is much more annoying than that of car traffic or even planes. A noise pollution that threatens the future of these machines however so promising, particularly in densely populated urban areas.

A mysterious sketch of the master Florentin – This 15th century genius just

It is in this context that researchers at Johns Hopkins University had. an idea as daring as it is improbable: what if the solution was in the dusty notebooks of a Renaissance genius?

Leonardo this 15th century genius just da Vinci had drawn in his notebooks a strange flying machine which he called “air screws” or “aerial propeller”. This design looked like a giant screw. perhaps inspired by the famous Archimedes screw, but suitable for splitting the air rather than moving water.

The idea seemed far -fetched. especially since the propulsion system imagined by Vinci was completely impracticable: men had to run around a central post to turn this helical helix. However, the very principle of this design would reserve a major surprise for modern engineers.

When the past surpasses the present

The researchers modeled the 3D Vinci screw thanks to the most advanced computer design tools. They then compared its theoretical performance with those of traditional propellers in our current drones. The result has something to make the whole modern aeronautical industry blush.

The Vincian design turned out to be superior on all critical points. First, it is remarkably more efficient. Thanks to its enlarged surface. this helical propeller does not need to turn as quickly as conventional propellers to generate the same lift. Less speed means less energy consumption, a crucial advantage for drone autonomy.

But it is on the acoustic plane that the superiority of the air screw becomes brilliant. Not only does it produce less noise. but this noise is also of this 15th century genius just better quality: more serious, therefore less aggressive for the human ear. The helical form generates particular air vortices which promote faster dissipation of sound in all directions.

A lesson in technological humility

This discovery raises fascinating questions about our relationship to innovation. How could a man of the 15th century. without calculating or blower, could conceive a more elegant solution than our modern engineers armed with supercomputers?

The answer perhaps lies in the very approach of Vinci. Free of the constraints of mass production. industrial standards, it could explore unconventional forms guided by its sole brilliant intuition. His new look at the problem of theft allowed him to imagine solutions that our time. locked in his technical paradigms, struggles to design.

Towards a silent revolution

The practical implications of this discovery are enormous. If manufacturers manage to adapt the this 15th century genius just design of Vinci to modern production constraints. we could attend the emergence of a new generation of drones: quieter, more energy efficient, and therefore more socially acceptable.

This revolution could unlock the massive adoption of drones in urban areas. paving the way for truly generalized delivery services, less intrusive environmental surveillance, or even more effective rescue applications.

Five centuries after his death, Leonardo da Vinci continues to teach us that the real genius transcends eras. A lesson in humility for our time which sometimes believes that more recent necessarily means better.

The article can be read on the Arxiv pre -print server.