What vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design that moved using wound-up springs?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart powered by wound-up springs.

The machine appears in drawings associated with the Codex Atlanticus and is often described as an early ancestor of the automobile or robot. Its two large driving wheels were connected to spring mechanisms, while a smaller front wheel helped guide the vehicle. The springs could be wound before release, storing energy for motion.

Unlike a modern car, the cart had no engine, fuel system, steering wheel, or brakes. Its movement was limited and depended on the stored mechanical energy. A programmable control system using pegs allowed the path to be set in advance, making the design especially notable as an early automaton.

The machine’s exact original purpose is uncertain. It may have been intended for theatrical performances or court festivities rather than transportation. A working reconstruction was built in the early 21st century after researchers reinterpreted Leonardo’s drawings.