What type of vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design to move without a visible horse or person pushing it?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that could move without a visible horse or person pushing it.

The cart appears in drawings from the late fifteenth century and is powered by coiled springs hidden inside its body. Cables and control mechanisms release the stored energy to turn the wheels. The design is often associated with theatrical performances, where a moving object could surprise an audience.

It is sometimes called the world’s first robot or the first programmable machine, but those labels need qualification. The cart could follow a predetermined path through mechanical settings, yet it had no electronic control, sensing, or independent decision-making. Its exact original purpose is also uncertain because Leonardo left no complete construction manual.

A full-scale reconstruction was displayed in Italy in 2006. Researchers used Leonardo’s surviving drawings to build a version that demonstrated the cart’s spring-driven movement and adjustable steering.