The fundamental problem in terminological issues is the distinction between autonomy and automation. Automatic systems are usually programmed to carry out specific activities in a defined and controlled environment. In turn, autonomous systems decide on their own whether to perform or not to perform the given task in a changing and unpredictable environment. The functioning of automated systems is based on specific principles, so it is deterministic and thus predictable. For example, the Phalanx system that has been used by the US Navy since 1980 and its ground defensive version - Centurion, as well as the Israeli Iron Dome are more advanced systems compared to the machines-automatic devices, but their principle of operation is based on the same model. Autonomous systems are much more independent, they have much greater freedom of action and thus, they are more unpredictable. Importantly, both categories - automatic and autonomous system - are not mutually exclusive and they are not homogeneous, because certain levels of automation and autonomy function in their case. There are no absolute criteria for distinguishing between automation and autonomy, but rather we may say that there is a continuum between them. It can be assumed that future combat systems will be multimodal, hybrid: autonomous for certain roles (e.g. steering, launching) and automatic for the others (e.g. moving around).
In the case of many definitions of autonomy, it is indicated that the basis for the functioning of a given autonomous system is the lack of human intervention. However, in such case, the automated processes, in which certain sequences of actions will be performed without operator’s intervention, may also be considered as autonomous. Autonomous systems are independent in making decisions associated with the performance of a specific task. Thus, they can adapt to unpredictable situations and to a large extent this distinguishes them from automated systems, where during their programming various types of situations are anticipated and algorithms for proceeding in the case of their occurrence are developed. Comparing an autonomous and automated system, it may be concluded that the former is the final element of automation that is able to independently implement all or almost all of the actions in the form of a sequence of formalized operations. Therefore, it may be assumed that autonomy has its limits and a human may control the machine at any moment, even if such person is not in the decision loop (he/she is not an operator). In other words, such person is an element that has planned the whole process, along with individual sequences of its implementation. The above-mentioned approach describing the autonomy may be described as an extreme element of automation.