What type of vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design in 1478 for moving without horses?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart in 1478 for moving without horses.

The cart used coiled springs to store energy. When released, the springs turned wheels through a system of gears, allowing the vehicle to move on its own for a limited distance. Leonardo’s drawings show a compact, three-wheeled machine rather than a practical road vehicle.

The design is often described as an early ancestor of the automobile or robot. However, it was not powered by an engine, and it was probably intended for theatrical use, perhaps to move scenery or create a surprising entrance at court events. A reconstruction displayed in 2006 demonstrated that the mechanism could work.

Leonardo’s cart is sometimes called a car, but “self-propelled cart” is the more historically precise description. It illustrates his interest in combining springs, gears, wheels, and controlled motion centuries before motor vehicles became possible.