Automated Vs. Autonomous
You might have heard that Google, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and reportedly Apple - are all working on autonomous-driving technology. A driverless car is what they all are targeting and this gives you a clear idea of how autonomous cars differ from automated cars.
Autonomous not only performs one or more task automatically, but refers to a device, system or entity that performs decision making independent of a larger device, system or entity. For example, there are two remote controlled cars. Both have automatic functions (use automation) but one is tethered with a human operator control like xbox, the other has on board microprocessor and makes all decisions by itself (autonomously). Another example for our industry, is autonomous maintenance.
Automated vs autonomous is just as mechatronics vs robotics. The main difference is inputs are "provided" to mechatronics systems whereas robotics systems "acquire" inputs by their own.
Well demonstrating further clarification, most traffic lights and washing machines are mechatronics system. Human presses button at traffic light when they want to cross the street and at washing machine to set temperature, time, etc in washing machine. Even if the traffic lights work automatically without the requirement of pressing buttons, it is still a mechatronics system because the input (e.g. time to change the lights) is provided. This process is called automatic. In contrast, if the traffic light uses a camera and moves its camera to detect people who want to cross the street and changes its lights accordingly, it is then a robotics system. This process is called autonomous. As Robotics can be considered as a part of Mechatronics, autonomous is a part of automated.
The move to true autonomy has become highly important, and progress towards that goal is happening with increasing speed. Radio-controlled devices have been replacing humans in hazardous situations for years. Now, autonomous vehicles are starting to take on complex jobs in places where radio frequency signals don’t work. A complicated real-world environment is the place to develop those qualities.
