Autonomous robotics

Autonomous robotics is the discipline of creating autonomous robots, those capable of some measure of self determination. In particular, autonomous robots are not teleoperated, but rather use artificial intelligence to provide control. This intelligent control sometimes includes automated planning and machine learning.

There are several open problems in autonomous robotics which are special to the field rather than being a part of the general pursuit of AI.

Energy autonomy & foraging

Researchers concerned with creating true artificial life are concerned not only with intelligent control, but further with the capacity of the robot to find its own resources through foraging (looking for food, which includes both energy and spare parts).

This is related to autonomous foraging, a concern within the sciences of behavioral ecology, social anthropology, and human behavioral ecology; as well as robotics, artificial intelligence, and artificial life.