What self-propelled vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design with clockwork springs?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart powered by clockwork springs.

The cart appears in drawings from the late 15th century and used coiled springs to store energy. Gears transferred that energy to the wheels, while a programmable mechanism helped control the route. The vehicle may have been intended for theatrical performances or court displays rather than transportation.

The cart is sometimes called Leonardo’s automobile because it could move without an animal pulling it. That label is useful as a comparison, but it should not suggest that Leonardo created a practical modern car. His machine had no engine, steering system, or passenger compartment in the modern sense.

A working reconstruction was made in the 20th century, and later studies showed that the design could operate when built according to the surviving drawings. The cart is separate from Leonardo’s mechanical lion and his later humanoid robot concept.