Selvgående

Selvgående is an adjective used in Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish contexts to describe machines or vehicles that move under their own power. It denotes equipment that contains its own propulsion system—such as an engine or motor and drive train—so it does not require external pushing, pulling, or towing to operate. The term is common in technical and industrial language.

The concept appears in several domains. In agriculture, selvgående traktorer and harvesters are standard examples of self-propelled farming equipment. In construction and industry, selvgående machines include cranes, loaders, and concrete pumps that can move themselves around a worksite. In the military, selvgående artilleri refers to self-propelled artillery that carries its own mobility. In robotics and automation, selvgående robots or vehicles describe mobile units designed to operate without being externally driven.

Selvgående equipment is typically contrasted with towed or manually powered gear. Self-propulsion does not necessarily imply autonomy in sensing or decision-making; operator control or pre-programmed routines may still govern its use, depending on the application.

Etymology and usage notes: the term combines selv- or selv- meaning self with gående (going, moving), and the suffix -ende to form an adjective. In Swedish, similar concepts are often expressed with självgående; in some Norwegian contexts, selvgående is preferred. Related terms include autonomous vehicle and self-propelled artillery.