Through the illustrative schematics of both the digital and three-dimensional drawing of Dionysius' Repeating Catapult of approximately 250 B.C., the uniqueness of its design becomes evidently apparent. As shown, the repeating catapult utilized a gravity fed magazine full of compact arrows two meters in length and a flat-linked chain-drive system to repeatedly fire arrows as the chain revolved around the catapults' slotted and grooved revolution drum. Unfortunately, due to the catapult's inability to concentrate its fire on many adjacent targets before running out of ammunition and its excessively expensive manufacturing cost, Dionysius' design was ultimately rejected.
Sources:
Yurtoğlu, N. (2018). Http://www.historystudies.net/dergi//birinci-dunya-savasinda-bir-asayis-sorunu…. History Studies International Journal of History, 10(7), 241-264. doi:10.9737/hist.2018.658