Glossary
Words, explained simply
The few technical terms we still use, in plain English.
Robotaxi
A taxi that drives itself, with no driver at the wheel.
Safety driver
A person at the wheel of a self-driving car, ready to take over.
Safety monitor
A staff member who rides along, often in the passenger seat, ready to stop the car.
Remote operator
A person somewhere else who can guide or steer a robot through a screen.
Teleoperation
Controlling a robot from a distance, like a remote-controlled car.
Humanoid robot
A robot built roughly in the shape of a person: a head, two arms and usually two legs.
Pilot
A trial with a real, named customer, before a full purchase.
Company-reported
Something only the maker says, with no independent source yet.
FDA clearance (510(k))
The FDA's permission to sell a medical device that is like one already on the market.
De Novo authorization
The FDA's route for a new kind of lower-risk device with nothing like it on the market.
Part 135 certificate
The FAA licence a company needs to fly deliveries for customers, like a small airline.
Levels of driving automation
A 0 to 5 scale for how much of the driving a car does, from none to all of it.
Cobot
A collaborative robot arm designed to work near people without a safety cage.
Exoskeleton
A wearable frame with motors that helps a person walk, lift or move.