There's a big dispute in the robotics world as to what classifies as a robot. Basically, any mechanical machine that is capable of performing tasks and executing decisions is a robot. A common definition is:
A machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically
but the official definition is:
Robot Institute of America, 1979 wroteA re-programmable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools, or specialized devices through various programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks.
It doesn't need though a microprocessor to be classified as one: as long as it executes tasks after some decision making (based on input from switches and sensors basically), it's a robot. Robots are two types: autonomous and controlled. So yes, remote controlled machines are robots.
