What was the name of Leonardo da Vinci's self-propelled cart, often called an early robot?

Leonardo da Vinci's early robot-like vehicle was a self-propelled cart.

Leonardo designed the cart around 1478 to 1480. Springs hidden inside its body stored energy, and the release of that energy drove the wheels through a system of gears. Steering could be set in advance with a programmable mechanism, allowing the cart to follow a predetermined path.

The cart was not a modern autonomous vehicle. It had no electronic controls, and its movement was limited by the energy stored in the springs and by the route selected before operation. The design is nevertheless often described as an early programmable machine or mechanical automaton.

A reconstructed model was built for an exhibition in Florence in 2006. Researchers found that Leonardo's surviving drawings do not show every construction detail, so modern reconstructions involve interpretation. The cart illustrates Leonardo's combination of theatrical machinery, mechanical engineering, and mathematical planning.