What self-propelled cart did Leonardo da Vinci design to move along a programmed path?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that could move along a programmed path without a person riding inside it.

The cart is described in drawings from the late 15th century and is often considered an ancestor of the automobile. Unlike a modern car, it was powered by tightly wound springs rather than an engine. Cams on its wheels controlled the direction of travel, allowing the cart to follow a predetermined route.

The design was probably intended for theatrical effects or court entertainment rather than transportation. Its mechanism could make the cart advance a limited distance, but it was not a practical road vehicle. This distinction matters because Leonardo also drew other wheeled machines, including military vehicles and devices powered by people or animals.

A working reconstruction was built in the 21st century using the surviving plans. The cart’s historical significance lies in its programmable mechanical motion: it could perform a sequence without continuous human steering.