Leonardo da Vinci’s self-propelled cart is often described as an early programmable machine because its path could be preset.
The cart’s steering mechanism could be configured before operation, determining the route it would follow. Its movement came from wound coiled springs transmitted through gears to the wheels, so it did not require a driver or animal pulling it.
Calling it programmable does not mean it used software or electronics. The preset motion was mechanical, much like a clockwork sequence. The description is useful because it highlights the cart’s ability to perform a planned action automatically.
The original purpose is uncertain. It may have been designed for theatrical effects, festivals, or court spectacles. Because Leonardo’s sketch is incomplete, reconstructions use informed interpretations of the surviving mechanism.