A New Spin on a Classic da Vinci Design

For more than 500 years, the drawings and imaginations of Italian Renaissance mastermind Leonardo da Vinci have inspired generations of scientists, inventors and creative thinkers.

In a new spin on a classic da Vinci design, students from the University of Maryland’s Department of Aerospace Engineering have taken one of the master’s ideas, the “Aerial Screw,” and developed a working prototype. 

Unveiled at the Vertical Flight Society’s 2022 Transformative Vertical Flight Conference—Crimson Spin, a small, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)—flies through the combined lift of four, whirring red spiral-shaped blades, and garnered much media attention for its unique take on da Vinci’s design.

Building a Bigger, Better Rocket Team

Launched in 2016, the Terrapin Rocket Team is a cross-disciplined organization that designs, builds, and launches high-powered rockets for competition.

After early success at regional competitions like Battle of the Rockets, the team’s ultimate goal was to compete in the Spaceport America Cup—the world’s largest intercollegiate rocket engineering competition that hosts over 150 teams from across the country and from around the world. They'll head there this summer!