What self-moving vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design in the late 15th century?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart in the late fifteenth century.

The cart was powered by coiled springs hidden inside its body. When wound, the springs released energy through gears and helped turn the wheels. Steering could be set in advance, allowing the machine to follow a predetermined path rather than being driven by a person sitting inside it.

A replica built in the early twenty-first century demonstrated that the design could move when reconstructed according to Leonardo’s surviving drawings. The vehicle is therefore often called a robot or automaton, although it was not an autonomous robot in the modern computer-controlled sense.

Leonardo’s cart was probably intended for theatrical or ceremonial use, perhaps to enter a stage or court event. It should not be confused with his armored fighting vehicle, which was a separate design with weapons and protective plating.