What Leonardo da Vinci invention was a spring-powered cart that moved without horses?
Answer
Self-propelled cart
Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart powered by wound springs.
The cart used tightly wound coiled springs to store energy. When released, the springs turned gears and drove the wheels, allowing the vehicle to move without a horse or person pushing it.
Leonardo’s drawing comes from the late 15th century and is often described as an ancestor of the modern automobile. Its likely uses included theatrical effects and ceremonial movement rather than ordinary road travel.
The cart is sometimes called the world’s first car, but that description is a modern comparison. It lacked an engine, steering system, and practical road design in the modern automotive sense.