If the computer can be described as a thinking machine, then a robot can be descibed as a thinking and operating machine. Many centuries ago, men like Thomas Aquinas and René Descartes proposed that animals and even people might be regarded as automatic machines. Just to mention, that as of the end of 2010, there are approximately 9 million robots operating in the world.
Some of the inventors of calculating devices, mentioned in other sections of this site, like Leonardo da Vinci, Athanasius Kircher, Leonardo Torres, etc., designed also automatic machines. Other computer pioneers, such as Charles Babbage, used some elements from automata in their machines. That's why the automatic machines (automata) deserve a separate section in this site: