Automaton

An automaton (plural: automata or automatons) is a self-operating machine.

(TO DO: expand, illustrate, cross-reference.)

Description

The word "automaton" is the latinization of the Greek αὐτόματον, automaton, (neuter) "acting of one's own will".

This word was first used by Homer to describe automatic door opening, or automatic movement of wheeled tripods.

It is more often used to describe non-electronic moving machines, especially those that have been made to resemble human or animal actions, such as the jacks on old public striking clocks, or the cuckoo and any other animated figures on a cuckoo clock.

See also

• Cellular automaton
• Machine

External links

• Automaton @ Wikipedia