What vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design in 1478 that could move without being pushed or pulled?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart in 1478 that could move without being pushed or pulled.

The cart used coiled springs to store energy. When released, the springs turned the cart’s wheels through a system of gears. Its steering could be set in advance, allowing the vehicle to follow a programmed path rather than being directly guided by a driver.

The design appears in Leonardo’s notebooks and is often described as an early ancestor of the automobile or robot. In 2006, researchers built a working reconstruction in Florence, showing that the mechanism could operate as intended.

It was not powered by an engine or fuel. That distinction matters because later steam and gasoline vehicles used continuous power sources, while Leonardo’s cart made a short, preloaded movement. The machine is also sometimes linked to his theatrical devices, because a self-moving cart could create a dramatic surprise on a Renaissance stage.