Leonardo da Vinci designed a springald, a siege weapon that used a spring mechanism to launch projectiles.
A springald is a torsion-powered artillery device. Instead of relying on a simple hand-thrown arm, it stores energy in twisted cords or a related spring system and releases that energy to propel a missile. Leonardo studied mechanisms of this kind while developing and refining military machines.
His weapons drawings show a continuing interest in increasing range, force, and repeatability. Mechanical artillery allowed an engineer to analyze leverage, tension, stored energy, and release timing. These studies were part of a larger Renaissance tradition in which designers revisited ancient siege weapons and adapted them to contemporary warfare.
A springald should not automatically be called a trebuchet. A trebuchet uses a counterweight or traction system, while a springald depends on spring or torsion power. Leonardo’s surviving drawings include several kinds of artillery, so identifying the mechanism matters when distinguishing one design from another.