Leonardo da Vinci designed an anemometer, a mechanical device for measuring wind speed.
Leonardo’s version used a flat plate that wind pushed upward. A graduated scale indicated how far the plate moved, allowing the observer to estimate the strength of the wind. The device was associated with his studies of flight and atmospheric motion, where wind conditions were central to understanding whether flying machines might work.
An anemometer measures wind speed, while a wind vane indicates wind direction. Those instruments are often confused because both are used in weather observation. Leonardo’s design was an early mechanical approach and did not resemble the rotating cup anemometers commonly seen today.
The device did not provide the precision of modern electronic instruments. Its historical importance lies in connecting systematic measurement with Leonardo’s investigations of air, birds, and flight. The surviving drawings show an effort to turn an invisible force into a visible reading on a scale.