What name is commonly given to Leonardo da Vinci’s spring-powered cart that could move without being pushed?

Leonardo da Vinci’s spring-powered cart is commonly called the self-propelled cart.

The design, generally dated to the late 15th century, uses coiled springs to store energy. When released, the springs turn the cart’s wheels through a system of gears. A steering mechanism and programmable components were also included, allowing the vehicle to follow a predetermined path rather than simply roll freely.

The cart may have been intended for theatrical performances or court spectacles. It could create movement on stage without a visible person pushing it, which would have made it especially effective as Renaissance entertainment. Some modern descriptions call it an early automobile, but that comparison can be misleading because it used stored spring energy rather than an internal-combustion engine.

A full-scale reconstruction was built in Florence in 2006 from Leonardo’s drawings. The result demonstrated that the basic mechanism could work, although the historical design’s exact purpose remains uncertain.