What early automobile precursor did Leonardo da Vinci design to move without being pushed by animals?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that could move without being pushed by animals.

The cart appears in Leonardo’s Codex Atlanticus and is usually dated to the late 15th or early 16th century. Springs wound inside drums supplied the stored energy, while a system of gears controlled the vehicle’s movement. Steering could be set in advance, allowing the cart to follow a programmed route.

Because it could move under its own stored power, the machine is often called an early automobile or a robotic vehicle. It was not powered by an internal-combustion engine and was not intended for long-distance travel.

A full-scale reconstruction displayed at the 2006 Florence exhibition showed that the basic mechanism could work. The cart is also linked with theatrical staging, since a moving vehicle could have helped create effects at court celebrations.