Rich Grise wrote:

If it has a human driver, it simply is NOT a robot. It's a servo.

If it were a robot, you'd simply tell it what the task is, and it would
figure out how to get it done without human intervention, except, of course,
for the guy who tells it what the task is.

au·tom·a·ton
noun \o?-?tä-m?-t?n, -m?-?tän\
plural au·tom·atons or au·tom·a·ta\-m?-t?, -m?-?tä\
Definition of AUTOMATON

1: a mechanism that is relatively self-operating; especially : robot
2: a machine or control mechanism designed to follow automatically a predetermined
sequence of operations or respond to encoded instructions
3: an individual who acts in a mechanical fashion

Which definition do you like, it seems like robot is a bit of a open term. Fanuc, ABB,
Kawasaki, et all would argue for the second definition and I've worked for #3 w/o any joy.

Then there is this:

Definition of ROBOT
1: a machine that looks like a human being and performs various complex acts (as walking
or talking) of a human being; also : a similar but fictional machine whose lack of
capacity for human emotions is often emphasized b : an efficient insensitive person who
functions automatically

2: a device that automatically performs complicated often repetitive tasks

3: a mechanism guided by automatic controls

Current widespread techology is a not an autonomous machine

Wes