April 13, 2009 (2009-04-13) – August 23, 2010 (2010-08-23)
Doing DaVinci is a popular science television program originally aired on the Discovery Channel in which the hosts attempted to create many of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions. The show aired on a weekly schedule with the first episode broadcast on April 13, 2009.[1]
Team
The inventions are created by a team of six members:
Valek Sykes, a special effects expert and mechanical designer, actor, owner of Tech Works Studios and Exit Biohazard and Crime Scene Cleanup
Terry Sandin, a mechanical and animatronics engineer and a host of Prototype This!
The team consults with da Vinci researcher Jonathan Pevsner to understand the inventions and decide on materials for their construction.
Construction
The team first consults with Jonathan Pevsner to decide on materials and map out the basics of the design. The invention is then reconstructed in Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk's Digital Prototyping solutions.[3] Then the team heads to a workshop to begin construction. After the invention is completed it is tested to determine whether or not the build was a success.
The team creates an armored gear-propelled tank operated by an eight-man team and capable of firing in a full 360° range.
2
"Siege Ladder"
April 20, 2009 (2009-04-20)
The crew attempts to build the renaissance master's most massive design: a towering three-story siege ladder. But as creative differences arise, tension threatens to pull the team apart.
The danger level hits a new high when the team devotes their talent to recreating Leonardo's deadly bladed chariot. But instead of horsepower, the team updates Da Vinci's 15th century design with robot power.
4
"Machine Gun"
May 4, 2009 (2009-05-04)
The team creates a multi-barrel cannon capable of firing eleven shots at once.