A robot is a mechanical or imaginary , artificial agent . Robots are generally an electro-mechanical system , whose functions , shapes and movements are being used by human beings as substitutes for human beings. The word robot originates from the Czech word 'robota' , which means forced labor or human slavery or monotony. A robot is a computer-controlled automated system that can perform exactly the way humans do, or the type of work it looks like it has artificial intelligence. It is possible to give a multidimensional definition of a robot. Simply put , a robot is a device that automatically assists humans in their work and is used as an alternative to humans in a variety of tasks .