What type of vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design to move without being pushed or pulled by an animal?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart to move without being pushed or pulled by an animal.

The machine, generally dated to around 1478–1480, used stored energy in coiled springs to drive its wheels. A system of gears controlled the release of that energy, while a programmable steering mechanism could set the cart’s route. The surviving drawing is one of Leonardo’s clearest examples of mechanical automation.

The cart was not powered by an engine in the modern sense. Its springs were wound before operation, so the vehicle could travel only as far as the stored energy allowed. This makes it more comparable to a clockwork machine than to a car.

A full-scale replica built in the twentieth century showed that the concept could operate. The cart is often described as a predecessor of the automobile, but that label should not imply that Leonardo created a practical road vehicle for everyday transport.