self-driving
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self-driving
Describes a vehicle that is able to steer and move autonomously without human intervention.
Die Technologie für selbstfahrende Autos wird immer weiter verbessert.
The technology for self-driving cars is being improved more and more.
The word is a compound of 'selbst' (self) and 'fahrend', the present participle of 'fahren' (to drive/travel). So it literally means that something drives or moves by itself.
Ein selbstfahrendes System übernimmt die Steuerung des Zuges.
A self-driving system takes over control of the train.
The exact meaning depends on the context. In connection with high-tech things like cars or buses, 'selbstfahrend' means autonomous. With simpler devices like lawn mowers or agricultural machines, it only means that they have their own motor and do not need to be pushed.
Forscher testen selbstfahrende Busse im Stadtverkehr.
Researchers are testing self-driving buses in city traffic.
In the autonomous meaning, the word is almost always combined with vehicles. The most common collocations are 'selbstfahrendes Auto' (self-driving car), 'selbstfahrender Bus' (self-driving bus), or 'selbstfahrender LKW' (self-driving truck).
Viele Firmen investieren in die Entwicklung selbstfahrender LKW.
Many companies are investing in the development of self-driving trucks.
automatic
'automatisch' and 'selbstfahrend' can both mean that something works without direct human help. But 'automatisch' is more general: a door, a machine, or a program can work automatically. 'selbstfahrend' is used mainly for vehicles or machines that move by themselves. Especially with cars, the words can be confused because a self-driving car steers automatically. But not everything automatic moves, and not every self-driving or self-propelled device means exactly the same thing as 'automatisch'.
Auf dem Testgelände fährt ein selbstfahrendes Auto ohne Fahrer durch die Kurven.
On the test site, a self-driving car goes through the curves without a driver.
Die Kaffeemaschine schaltet sich nach einer Stunde automatisch aus.
The coffee machine switches itself off automatically after one hour.