Leonardo da Vinci’s spring-powered road vehicle was designed to move itself without an animal.
Leonardo’s self-propelled cart, usually dated to the late 15th century, used coiled springs as its source of power. The springs were wound in advance and released through a system of gears, allowing the cart’s wheels to turn. A steering mechanism also helped determine its path.
The machine is often described as an early ancestor of the automobile, but it was not powered by an engine and was not intended for long-distance travel. Its likely uses included theatrical displays, ceremonies, or moving scenery. The cart could be programmed to travel along a preset route, making it especially useful for spectacle.
The surviving drawing is incomplete, and scholars have reconstructed the mechanism from Leonardo’s notes and related sketches. In 2006, a replica was built and tested in Florence. The cart is therefore evidence of early mechanical self-motion, not proof that Leonardo created a practical motor car.