What wheeled device did Leonardo da Vinci design that could move without being pushed by an animal?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that could move without an animal pushing it.

The cart appears in drawings from around 1478–1480 and is powered by coiled springs housed inside its wheels. The springs would be wound in advance, then release energy through a system of gears and cables. A steering mechanism could be programmed so the cart followed a preset path.

The machine was probably intended for theatrical performances or court spectacles rather than transportation. Its design shows Leonardo combining clockwork, gearing, and stage machinery in a compact vehicle.

It is sometimes called the world’s first robot or automobile, but those labels need care. The cart was not an automobile in the modern engine-powered sense, and the “robot” description reflects its programmed movement rather than artificial intelligence. Several reconstructions have demonstrated that the mechanism can work when built from the drawings.