What Leonardo da Vinci invention was a spring-powered vehicle designed to move without a horse?

Leonardo da Vinci’s self-propelled cart was a spring-powered vehicle designed to move without a horse.

The cart used coiled springs to store energy, much like the springs in a clock. Gears transferred that stored energy to the wheels, and a steering mechanism could set the vehicle to follow a predetermined path. The design was compact and could potentially be used for theatrical effects or ceremonial displays.

Leonardo’s drawing dates to the late 15th century and is often described as an early ancestor of the automobile. It was not powered by an engine and therefore should not be called a car in the modern sense. Its motion came from mechanical energy stored before operation.

The cart is also distinct from Leonardo’s larger armored vehicle. The armored vehicle was a military design with protective plates and guns, while the self-propelled cart was a lighter mechanical transport concept. A modern reconstruction demonstrated that the design could move when built with suitable interpretations of the surviving drawing.