A tortoise inspired the shape of Leonardo da Vinci’s armored vehicle.
Leonardo designed the fighting vehicle in the late 15th century as a conical, armored machine with sloping plates. Its broad, low profile and protective shell-like covering gave it the appearance of a tortoise. The vehicle was intended to move across a battlefield while shielding the people inside.
The design included a circular platform surrounded by cannons and was meant to be powered by people turning cranks connected to wheels. Leonardo presented the idea as a military machine, but historians debate whether the vehicle could have worked as drawn. Some reconstructions have identified possible mechanical problems, including the direction of the gearing.
The machine is frequently called Leonardo’s tank, although it was not a modern tracked tank. It had wheels, no engine, and no evidence shows that Leonardo’s vehicle was ever constructed for warfare.