What type of transport did Leonardo da Vinci sketch as a self-moving cart?

Leonardo da Vinci sketched a self-propelled cart, an early design for a vehicle that could move without being pushed or pulled.

The cart used tightly wound springs to store energy. When released, the springs turned the wheels through a system of gears. Leonardo’s drawings also suggest that the vehicle could be programmed to follow a predetermined path by setting its steering mechanism before departure.

The design appears in Leonardo’s late-15th-century engineering work. It may have been intended for theatrical performances or court spectacles rather than ordinary transportation. The cart is therefore better understood as an automaton or mechanical stage device than as a practical automobile.

A modern reconstruction was built in the 21st century using the proportions and mechanisms shown in Leonardo’s drawings. The cart did not use an engine, gasoline, or steam. Its stored spring energy is the key feature that distinguishes it from later powered road vehicles.