So what does a 2,400-year-old wooden bird that once flew have to do with us today? The answer is more than one might expect.The vision of Archytas fundamentally shaped our world by proving that mechanics is a creative force that could drive humanity forward. He founded the field of mathematical mechanics, bridging the gap between abstract theory and real-world applications through tangible inventions. That ancient pigeon, described by the Roman writer Aulus Gellius as being propelled by a jet of steam, was the ancestor of every modern engine, drone, and robot.Although this may sound like an exaggeration, it truly is...