noun
automaton; automata
Refers to a self-operating mechanical figure, often in historical or steampunk contexts.
博物館で江戸時代の自動人形を見た。
I saw an automaton from the Edo period at the museum.
ロボット is a general term for robots, while 自動人形 specifically refers to mechanical dolls or automata, often with a historical or artistic nuance.
Compound of 自動 (automatic) and 人形 (doll, puppet). The term is a straightforward modern coinage for mechanical automata.