[Paul Copioli]

From the American Heritage Dictionary:

robot n 1. A mechanical device that resembles a human being and is capable of preforming human tasks or behaving in a human manner. 2. A person who works mechanically without original thought. 3. A machine or device that works automatically or by remote control.

So by definition 3 above, our robots are robots. Cars are not robots as they do not work by remote control (cars you and I drive). Microwaves could be a robot I guess.