What transport machine did Leonardo da Vinci design to move without a horse?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that could move without a horse.

The cart appears in drawings from the late fifteenth century and is powered by coiled springs. As the springs unwind, gears transmit motion to the wheels. Steering could be set in advance, allowing the vehicle to follow a predetermined route rather than requiring a driver to control it continuously.

The design is often described as an early ancestor of the automobile, but it was not powered by an engine. It also was not a bicycle: the cart had a wooden frame, wheels, springs, and gearing. Its likely purposes included theatrical effects or ceremonial appearances.

A reconstruction displayed at the 2006 Florence exhibition “Leonardo: The Genius” demonstrated that the mechanism could operate when built from the surviving drawings. The exact original use remains uncertain, but the engineering principle is clearly documented.