Leonardo da Vinci did not invent the machine gun as we know it today, but he did conceptualize a similar device in the late 15th century. His designs included a multi-barreled gun that was part of a larger artillery project. These sketches are found in his notebooks, dated around 1480.
Da Vinci’s approach involved creating a weapon that could fire multiple projectiles in rapid succession, which was revolutionary for his time. However, it’s important to note that these designs were never constructed or used in battle. The modern machine gun, with its automatic firing capability, was developed much later in the 19th century, well after Da Vinci’s time.