Flavio Russo

Automata (Towards Automation and Robots)

This chapter is about the early automatic devices in general and the automata in particular. Automata are presented starting from the Hellenistic era till the early 19th Century. Among the automatic devices, the repeating catapult, conceived by Greek scientists but widely used by the Romans, is particularly interesting since it represents the ancestor of the modern automatic weapons.

Devices for Distance and Time Measurement at the Time of Roman Empire

In this paper, devices for measuring distances and time intervals are presented as conceived and used during Roman Empire since they represent the most important means of practices and developments both for scientist and engineers. The constructions and operations of main devices are discussed by using modern reconstructions and interpretations with the aim to sow the expertise in mechanism design at the time of the Roman Empire.

Automatic Weapons of the Roman Empire

In the present paper the mechanics and the mechanisms that were used in some military weapons of the Roman Army are presented. In particular it is shown that both automatic weapons and pneumatic weapons were invented and used at that ages.

The Production of Water

This chapter shows two not very widely known devices to obtain fresh eater from air. These devices could explain how ancient towns could resist to long sieges without any apparent source of fresh water. Moreover, these device are very simple to build and do not need any external source of energy, so they could be used even in the present days in emerging countries or in case of natural disasters.

Refrigeration and Heating

This chapter shows some techniques used during the Roman era in order to obtain a sort of refrigeration or of heating in the houses. Techniques to obtain ice during the same era are also reported. Finally, an example of the use of solar energy for heating is reported.

Representing and Measuring the Environment

This chapter represents a sort of introduction to the ancient technology. All started with a design, so the early techniques used to represent what had to be built. Examples of planimetries and the relative building, starting from the IV Millennium B.C. are presented. Finally tables containing almost all the ancient Greek and Roman units are reported.

Some Ancient Building Techniques

In this chapter the main ancient building techniques are presented. The latter concern almost all the ancient civilizations, mainly in the Mediterranean area, and the Roman age in particular. Some examples of anti-seismic building techniques are also presented and some authors’ virtual reconstructions of ancient seismic isolators.

Spinning and Weaving

In this chapter the evolution in spinning and weaving is presented, starting from the very ancient hand operated spindle and distaff, till the machines of the industrial revolution. What above can also explain how it was possible to obtain low cost fabrics and clothes in the last centuries.

The Natural Energy Used in Antiquity

In this chapter the early sources of mechanical energy are presented. The sources of energy that were considered are: muscular energy (from man, and animals) by acting on capstans, thread wheel, wind motors, water wheel. For all those motors, rough formulas to evaluate their power and energy are also reported.

Measuring Distance and Slope

In this chapter the ancient device to measure slopes and distances are presented. Most of them belong to the Greek-Roman era. These devices, despite their simplicity, were surprisingly accurate; in fact, they permitted to realize the surprising roads, bridges, tunnels, aqueducts, buildings etc. of the antiquity. Then the astrolabe is also briefly described. Some examples of how did these devices work are also presented.