What type of vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design with a spring-powered mechanism for automatic movement?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart with a spring-powered mechanism for automatic movement.

The cart appears in drawings from around 1478 to 1480. It used coiled springs as an energy source, with power transmitted through gears to the wheels. Steering could be set in advance, allowing the cart to follow a programmed route rather than requiring a driver to control it continuously.

Because it could move without being pushed or pulled by an animal, the machine is often described as an early ancestor of the automobile or robot. It was probably intended for theatrical performances or court ceremonies, where a moving prop could create a dramatic effect.

The cart was not powered by an engine and did not provide practical transportation. In 2006, engineers in Florence built a working replica based on Leonardo’s drawings. The replica demonstrated that the mechanism could operate, although details of the original design remain open to interpretation.