What mechanical device did Leonardo da Vinci design to move by itself without animals?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that could move without animals. The machine is often described as an early precursor to the automobile or robot, although it was powered by wound springs rather than an engine.

Leonardo’s drawings show a three-wheeled cart with two large driving wheels and a smaller steering wheel. Coiled springs inside the driving drums supplied the energy, while programmed cams controlled the cart’s movement. The mechanism may have been intended for theatrical performances or court entertainments rather than transportation.

The original design was incomplete and difficult to interpret, so modern reconstructions have tested different readings of the sketches. In 2006, a working interpretation was demonstrated at the Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence, now the Museo Galileo.

Calling it the first automobile can be misleading because it had no combustion engine and was not developed for roads. Its importance lies in combining stored mechanical energy, gearing, and programmable motion centuries before modern vehicles and robots.