What vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design to move itself using coiled springs and geared wheels?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart powered by coiled springs and geared wheels.

The cart appears in Leonardo’s drawings from the late fifteenth century. Two large springs stored energy, while a system of gears transferred that energy to the wheels. Steering could be set in advance, allowing the vehicle to follow a predetermined route rather than being guided continuously by a driver.

The mechanism may have been intended for theatrical performances or court festivities. It was not an automobile in the modern sense: it had no engine, brakes, or independent steering system comparable to those in later vehicles.

The cart is sometimes called Leonardo’s automobile, but that label can mislead. Its power source was mechanical spring tension, and its movement was limited by the amount of stored energy and the preset steering arrangement.