What clockwork vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design to move without a visible driver?

Leonardo da Vinci’s clockwork vehicle designed to move without a visible driver was the self-propelled cart.

Leonardo drew the vehicle around 1478–1480. Springs stored inside its mechanism supplied power, while programmed cams controlled the movement of the wheels. The cart was probably intended for theatrical or ceremonial use, such as creating a dramatic effect at a court event.

It is often called the first self-propelled cart, although it was not an automobile in the modern sense. The mechanism had a limited range and depended on stored mechanical energy rather than an engine. Leonardo’s drawing was rediscovered and interpreted in the twentieth century, leading to reconstructions.

The cart is also sometimes linked to Leonardo’s mechanical lion, but they were separate designs. Its significance is the combination of spring power, gearing, and pre-programmed motion in a compact vehicle.