What's the difference between a robot and a machine?

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   Ciel Clarkposted 12 years ago

   What's the difference between a robot and a machine?

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   Grace Whitesposted 12 years ago

   A robot has built in battery while the machine is an electronic device that produces work, service or output.

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      swordsbaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Machines are not necessarily electronic devices.

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   content4lifeposted 12 years ago

   Actually there isn't too much of a difference.  They are both machines that are programmed to complete a certain or a variety of tasks.  Although the slight power mechanism of  electronic machines and battery operated machines may differ, they are very similiarly programmed machines that are built to perform.

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      swordsbaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      All robots are machines, but not all machines are robots.  Robots function without direct input from an operator.

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   Graysons Papaposted 12 years ago

   I think the difference is one of autonomy. Both are machines designed for specific tasks, but how the task gets accomplished separates the two.
   
   Case in point: Vacuum cleaner vs. Roomba. Even a vacuum as advanced as a 'Dyson' is just a machine; someone has to guide it around. It just sucks...really well.
   
   By contrast, the Roomba is a robot; It has the same task, but is autonomous in its operation. The user can set the time of day, then forget it. The Roomba accomplishes its task according to a predefined set of parameters but does not require human intervention beyond initial setup and periodical emptying.

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   Brandon E Newmanposted 12 years ago

   Machines help humans perform tasks easier. Robots replace humans entirely. You have seen what robots can do for repetitive assembly positions in factories where precision is paramount. Robotic inspection machines can do the work of many in a fraction of the time, picking out oddballs, and off color or rotten things in milliseconds, blasting them away with little jets of high pressure air. A machine is a fulcrum, wedge, wheel, or combination of those things. A simple machine is useless without an operator. A robotic machine can perform its function unaided.

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   swordsbaneposted 12 years ago

   This reminds me of the question: What is a computer?  Most people see only the idiot box holding in the one's and zero's as being a computer, but an abacus is a computer.  A ruler is a computer.  The definition of a computer is "that which computes"  Computers have been around for a LONG time.
   
   The only difference that separates a machine and a robot is that the robot is guided by an internal device.  A self-guided missile is a robot.  A spin-stabilized rocket is not.  A car that drives itself is a robot.  An RC car is not.  A machine doesn't necessarily have any kind of internal guidance.  The term "machine" is a broader term than "computer"  A machine, technically is simply something with more than one moving part in it.  Robot's are machines, but then so is a human being.  All machines are not human beings or robots though.
   
   A better answer is that a robot is a subset of machine.

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   ramkimeenaposted 12 years ago

   Robot is a highly sophisticated and automated machine  that can  perform high end tasks independently. Robot is also a machine. All robots are machines but all machines are not  robots.

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   connorjposted 12 years ago

   A robot is a type of machine or indeed a subset of a machine. All robots are indeed machines and not many machines are robots. Yet, I still do not (indeed)  trust the machines...

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      dxnworksposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      good definetion, thanks Connorj

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   dxnworksposted 12 years ago

   Machine is a set of metal parts alined for a particular job,
   Where as Robot is a set of few smaller machines with few electronically controlled device such as photo sensor and voice sensors, that can be programed with software for multitasking.

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