What self-moving device did Leonardo da Vinci design that is often called an early robot?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that is often described as an early robot or automobile.

The cart appears in drawings from the late 15th century and was powered by coiled springs hidden inside its body. The springs drove the wheels through a system of gears, while programmable control devices helped determine its movement. The mechanism could also make the cart travel along a pre-set path.

Leonardo’s cart was not a car in the modern sense. It carried no engine, steering wheel, or passengers, and its range would have been limited by the stored energy in the springs. Scholars continue to discuss the exact purpose of the machine, including whether it was designed for theatrical displays or court festivities.

A reconstruction built in the early 21st century demonstrated that the basic mechanism could work. The cart is also sometimes linked to Leonardo’s mechanical lion, but these were separate designs. The cart’s importance lies in combining stored power, gearing, and programmable motion several centuries before motor vehicles became practical.