What machine did Leonardo da Vinci design to weave decorative patterns automatically?

Leonardo da Vinci designed an automatic loom to mechanize parts of the textile-weaving process.

Leonardo studied machines that could reduce repetitive labor, and his loom drawings show mechanisms for coordinating thread movement and fabric production. Cams, gears, and linked components could perform repeated actions that would otherwise require a weaver’s hands.

The design belongs to Leonardo’s broader interest in automation and manufacturing. It should not be confused with the Jacquard loom, which was developed centuries later and used punched cards to control complex woven patterns. Leonardo did not create the industrial textile systems of the nineteenth century.

Because several of Leonardo’s textile sketches survive in different manuscripts, descriptions can vary depending on which drawing is being discussed. “Automatic loom” is the useful general term for the design’s intended function: mechanically coordinating weaving operations.