What unusual vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design to move on land using mechanical power?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart to move on land using mechanical power.

The cart is one of Leonardo’s best-known studies of automation. Hidden springs supplied the energy, while gears and other mechanical parts transferred that energy to the wheels. A system involving pegs could be adjusted to influence the cart’s route, making it more than a simple rolling vehicle.

The machine is often dated to the late 15th century and may have been intended for a dramatic entrance or other court entertainment. Leonardo’s design shows how Renaissance engineers could combine clockwork principles with theatrical effects. It was not powered by steam, electricity, gasoline, or an animal.

Some accounts call the cart the world’s first automobile. That is a useful popular comparison but not a precise modern classification. The cart was a spring-driven automaton with limited programmed movement, not a road vehicle designed for passengers or long-distance travel.