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On 2 May 1519, Leonardo da Vinci died, the great artist and researcher, draftsman and engineer. The interest in his work is still very much alive and its importance for the development of mechanics is undisputed.

The Codex Madrid I is Leonardo's main work on technology. For a long time he was lost, its discovery in Madrid in 1965 was a little sensation. By this book, a completely new image of Leonardo as an engineer was gained.

The codex contains two parts, one with excellent drawings and one with theoretical considerations. However, Leonardo observes the state of the art of his time. He analyzes, notes, develops - e.g. a modern freewheel, involute gears, textile machines, clocks, locks in all details, motion by reduced friction. Dynamics, statics and hydraulics point to the future.

But the first edition of 1974 left many questions and wishes unanswered - especially with regard to systematization, classification and commentary. The new edition produced at RWTH Aachen University now, offers a completely different layout in four volumes: Volumes 1 and 2 provide the translation of the whole manuscript, each chapter with a detailed commentary. Volume 3 provides a historical classification, explanation of drawing technique, statistics and detailed registers. Volume 4 shows all original pages in reverse of the mirror font with numbering of texts and drawings. Thus, the drawings and texts of Codex Madrid I are now fully developed and commented available.