- AI controlled robot: evaluated in robotics challenges like Micromouse, Narrow AI, sub-human level AI, a program is controllling the robot
- Teleoperated robot: no robotics challenge available yet, Human level skills because the human operator understands the situation as default, is not controlled by software but a human is in the loop
A software controlled robot has the maximum productivity. The machine is working similar to a electric motor: after activating the program no human intervention is needed. This reduces the costs to zero. The disadvantage is, that the robot's skills are restricted. Most software controlled robots are only able to do simple line following tasks and play games like chess.
In contrast, a teleoperated robot has the ability to solve all sorts of problems. Especially tasks from the reality which are asking of human level skills. A human controlled robotarm is able to pick&place objects as default without addtional software. The disadvantage of teleoperation is, that a human operator is needed all the time. The productivity is not higher than without any robot. The reason why teleoperation is used in reality is because the human operator can be connected over the internet. A typical example is telemedicine,in which the expert doctor is located far away from the operation room.
A contest for teleoperated robots looks the same like an RC car challenge. That means, each operator stands with a remote control in front of the robot and should do some tasks with it.