Four meanings of autonomous
Balancing, walking to a point, executing a learned grasp and completing a workflow are different capabilities. A robot may stabilise its gait while an operator makes every task decision. Define task boundaries: what starts it, who identifies objects and what happens after failure. An AI label does not define the deliverable.
A customer-controlled demonstration
Request continuous footage and disclosure of camera monitoring and operator commands. Identify replayed versus live-planned motions. Change one agreed parameter, such as bin position, and observe recovery. Remote assistance counts in the result. The aim is an explicit human role, not an unrealistic unsupervised test.
The operator belongs in the budget
Record robots per operator, skills and backup coverage. Include preparation, waiting and recovery, not just motion time. For teleoperation define network requirements, connection-loss behaviour and handover to local control. Validate staffing assumptions in the intended site.
Data, remote access and acceptance
Map video, audio and logs: recipients, processing location, retention and recording controls. Assign remote-access administration. Separate unassisted completion from completion after intervention. Record software version because results apply to a specific configuration. These technical and operational checks do not replace your organisation’s own obligations review.
