poloautomatické

Poloautomatické is a Czech term meaning semi-automatic. It is used as an adjective to describe devices, systems, or modes that perform part of a process automatically after a single user action, while requiring additional user input to initiate or complete subsequent cycles. The word combines polo- (half) with automatické (automatic), reflecting the partial automation involved.

In firearms, poloautomatické describes weapons that fire one round per trigger pull and automatically chamber the next round, but do not fire continuously with a single trigger action. This contrasts with fully automatic weapons, which continue firing as long as the trigger is held, and with manually operated devices, which require direct manual action for each cycle. The semi-automatic mechanism generally involves a cycling system that uses energy from the fired cartridge to prepare the next shot.

Beyond firearms, the term is used in broader technical contexts to denote partial automation. In industrial equipment and automation, poloautomatické systems can perform recurring actions automatically after an initial input, while still requiring human intervention for setup, supervision, or cycle initiation. In consumer electronics and photography, semi-automatic modes may describe camera settings or processing sequences that automate part of the task but rely on user control for primary parameters or decision points.

Historically, semi-automatic concepts emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries alongside advances in mechanical design and control systems. The designation remains common in Czech-language technical and regulatory texts as a way to distinguish between fully manual, semi-automatic, and fully automatic operation.