What name is given to Leonardo da Vinci’s self-propelled cart, designed in the late 15th century?

Leonardo da Vinci’s self-propelled cart is known as Leonardo’s self-propelled cart. He designed it around 1478–1480, making it one of his earliest known mechanical inventions and a frequent candidate for the title of first programmable vehicle.

The cart was powered by coiled springs hidden inside its body. Gears transferred the spring energy to the wheels, while a steering system could be set in advance using a series of blocks. When released, the cart would move along a predetermined route rather than being driven by a person.

The design may have been intended for theatrical performances or court pageants. Leonardo worked for powerful patrons in Renaissance Italy, where mechanical spectacles were valuable entertainment. The machine’s surviving drawings were incomplete, and its exact original form was reconstructed only centuries later.

It is sometimes called an early automobile, but it did not use an engine or carry passengers like a modern car. Its strongest historical significance is as an ingenious spring-powered programmable mechanism.