How did Joseph Jacquard's loom use punched cards as feedforward control?

In the context of control theory, the Jacquard loom, developed by Joseph-Marie Jacquard in 1801, serves as a classic example of feedforward control.1

Unlike feedback systems that use output data to correct a process, the Jacquard loom operated without using information from the weaving process to adjust its performance. Instead, it utilized a set of interchangeable punched cards as a programmed input. These cards contained holes that acted as coded instructions, determining the specific patterns and the movement of warp yarns automatically.123

By pre-programming the machine's operations through these cards, the loom executed a predetermined sequence of actions to produce intricate designs. Because the machine followed these instructions directly without monitoring or responding to the actual output of the weaving process, it is categorized as a feedforward control system. This innovation demonstrated the early concept of a programmable machine, influencing the development of future digital computers.2314