In 1495 Leonardo da Vinci designed a knight that was operated by pulleys and cables.  This robot-like machine, later referred to as Leonardo’s mechanical knight, was designed to independently sit, stand, raise its visor, and maneuver its arms.  The design is thought to be partially a result of da Vinci’s anatomic research. Image is a model of the mechanical knight design.  Photo by Erik Möller. Leonardo da Vinci. Mensch - Erfinder - Genie exhibit, Berlin 2005. - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=395321