Robot

A Robot is machine which can automatically perform tasks without the intervention of a human. Traditionally, robots have been mechanical systems controlled by a programmable computer, but advances in software have resulted in programs that fit this definition. (These programs are colloquially known as bots.) In general, a robot is a machine that can act as a the agent of a human without being under the direct control of that human.

In practice the definition of a robot is somewhat fluid. In general, to can something robot, it must fufill the following criteria:

• It must be artificially constructed.
• It must be able to sense some aspect of its environment.
• It must be able ot alter its behavior based on inputs from the environment.
• It must be programable.

Other behaviors that are often assiciated with robots, but are not strictly needed to meet the definition, are:

• It can manipulate objects in its environment.
• It may have specific tasks to perform.
• It may have an advanced decision making ability.
• It may resemble an living creature (Zoomorphic), in part or in entirity. Possible examples include: humans, dogs, insects, snakes, etc.
• It may be autonomous.