volautomatische

Volautomatische is a Dutch adjective meaning fully automatic. In common usage it describes systems or devices that can operate continuously without further input beyond initial activation, as long as energy supply or ammunition is available. In firearms, volautomatische refers to weapons that can fire successive rounds automatically when the trigger is pressed and held, with the action cycling to chamber, eject, and cock new rounds until the trigger is released or ammunition runs out. This contrasts with semi-automatic firearms, which fire one round per trigger pull and then reset the mechanism automatically for the next trigger pull.

Mechanisms that enable volautomatische operation are diverse. In firearms, most police or military-grade automatic weapons use recoil-operated or gas-operated actions to cycle the chamber; some contemporary devices use electronic control to manage firing, rate of fire, and cooling. In industrial contexts, volautomatische machinery includes production lines and robotic systems that perform multiple, coordinated actions without manual intervention.

Legal and regulatory status varies by country. In many jurisdictions, volautomatische firearms are tightly controlled or prohibited for civilian ownership, requiring licenses, secure storage, and special authorization. Other domains, such as manufacturing or automation technology, may regulate safety standards and compliance but allow fully automatic operation under appropriate conditions.

The term originates from Dutch, with vol meaning "fully" and automatisch meaning "automatic." It is used in technical, industrial, and law-enforcement discussions as a descriptive label for systems that operate without ongoing manual input.