What was Leonardo da Vinci’s spring-powered vehicle commonly called?

Leonardo da Vinci’s spring-powered vehicle was commonly called a self-propelled cart.

Leonardo designed the cart in the late 15th century, probably for theatrical performances or court celebrations. Wound springs stored the energy that drove the cart, while a steering system controlled its route. The mechanism could be set up to follow a predetermined path rather than being guided continuously by a driver.

The cart is sometimes described as an early ancestor of the automobile, but it did not use an engine in the modern sense. It moved through stored mechanical energy, much like a large clockwork device. Its likely entertainment purpose also distinguishes it from a practical transport vehicle.

A reconstruction built in the 21st century showed that the design could function. Scholars often regard it as an important early example of a programmable machine because its movement could be arranged in advance.