Which statement about autonomous robots is most accurate?

• A. They require continuous direct human control
• B. They always lack any programmed instructions
• C. They operate using pre-programmed rules and can act without supervision
• D. They cannot sense their environment

Answer: (C)

Autonomy means a robot can perform tasks and make decisions on its own, using sensors, perception, planning, and control algorithms. The statement that best describes this is that autonomous robots operate using pre-programmed rules and can act without supervision. They’re designed with objective-driven logic that lets them respond to what they perceive in the environment, so they don’t need a continuous human operator to function. They can still have safety checks or higher-level oversight, but their core ability is to execute tasks independently. The idea of needing constant human control isn’t how autonomy is defined, and autonomous systems are built with instructions and sensing capabilities that let them operate without direct, ongoing input.