au·tom·a·ton 
(ô-tŏmə-tŏn′, -tən)
(ô-tŏmə-tŏn′, -tən)n. pl. au·tom·a·tons or au·tom·a·ta (-tə)
1. A self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot.
2. One that behaves or responds in a mechanical way.
[Latin, self-operating machine, from Greek, from neuter of automatos, self-acting; see AUTOMATIC.]
au·toma·tous adj.