@nerthos @vaartis back on topic

Automaton generally is an overreaching term, I.e. anything that happens on its own in some strucutal fashion, for instance, cellular automata. Neural network can be seen as cellular automata.

Robot is typically associated with mechanics and heavy machinery, to the point where terms "bio robot", "cyborg", " android" are much more widespread.

Concluding in my essay "automaton" is more likely to have feelings than "robot"