Leonardo da Vinci designed an armored tank-like fighting vehicle with conical armor and many guns.
His drawing, usually dated to around 1487–1489, shows a broad, covered platform resembling a small tortoise. Sloped armor was intended to deflect incoming projectiles, while light cannons were arranged around the vehicle so it could fire in several directions. The machine was meant to be moved by people turning internal cranks connected to wheels.
The vehicle was never built for Renaissance warfare. A famous drawing error appears to make the gears turn in opposing directions, preventing movement if constructed literally. Some historians think the error may have been deliberate or may simply reflect an incomplete design. Regardless, the concept combines protection, mobility, and all-around firepower in a striking early armored-vehicle proposal.