Meaning and local context
Directions in Cape Town may tell you to turn at the second robot or continue through a robot. The word is ordinary local road vocabulary.
The usage developed from early descriptions of automatic traffic-control devices.
How robot is used
The expression belongs mainly to informal conversation. Its exact force depends on the speaker, relationship, and situation, so listening to the surrounding sentence is more reliable than replacing it with one rigid dictionary synonym.
Example in conversation
Turn left at the next robot and continue uphill.
Plain meaning: Turn left at the next traffic light and continue uphill.
Common misunderstanding
Visitors may imagine a mechanical machine rather than a road signal.
Use with care
Follow the actual signal and road signs; conversational directions can become outdated.
Remember it naturally
Connect the term with the local situation shown above rather than memorising it as an isolated translation. Regional language changes over time and can differ by neighbourhood, age, and community.