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

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that is often considered an early programmable machine.

The cart was drawn in the Codex Atlanticus and is generally dated to around 1478–1480. It used springs to store energy, while a system of gears controlled the turning of its wheels. A steering mechanism could be set in advance, allowing the cart to follow a predetermined path rather than requiring a driver to guide it continuously.

The design may have been intended for theatrical or ceremonial use, possibly to create a dramatic moving effect at a court event. It was not a motor vehicle in the modern sense: it had no engine, fuel system, or means of responding to changing surroundings. Its motion depended on stored mechanical energy and prearranged settings.

The cart is sometimes called Leonardo’s robot, but that label can cause confusion. Leonardo’s separate robot knight was a human-shaped automaton. The cart is better understood as an early self-moving, programmable machine.