What vehicle did Leonardo da Vinci design to move without an onboard driver?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that could move without an onboard driver.

The cart appears in drawings from the late 15th century and is powered by coiled springs hidden inside its body. The springs would be wound before use, then release energy through gears and mechanisms connected to the wheels. Steering could be set in advance, allowing the cart to follow a predetermined path.

The device was probably intended for theatrical performances or court entertainments rather than transportation. It may have been designed to carry a small figure onto a stage or across a ceremonial space. Because Leonardo left incomplete information, later reconstructions have had to infer several mechanical details.

The cart is sometimes called a robot because it could operate automatically, but it was not an autonomous robot in the modern programmable sense. Its movement was mechanical and pre-set rather than responsive to its surroundings.