1 Autonomous. Robotics expert Maja J. Živanović points out that machines are controlled by someone, while robots can be autonomous, or self-controlled. 2 Sensors. Unlike an ordinary machine, a robot often has sensors, such as light sensors. These sensors help the robot "see" its environment and make sense of it. 3 Artificial Intelligence. A robot can use data collected from its sensors to detect when a state has changed and then take appropriate actions. 4 Other. Machines are typically considered to be lifeless objects that just do what you tell them to do; Robots are typically seen as having some degree of personhood, so they can have their own interests (within reason) and feelings.