A Dalek is - strictly speaking - the mutated creature inside an armoured shell, with the shell acting as an environment suit and a one man (creature) assault vehicle, which is also capable of space travel, conventional atmospheric flight, ground effect hovering and levitation.

The origins of the mutations were a race of humanoid people known as Kaleds, who, due to generations of war, which led to radiation poisoning.  Further intervention by the Kaled's chief scientist, Davros, stabilized the mutations and endowed them with tremendous intellect and xenophobic ferocity.  The metal shells (actually a substance known as Dalekenium, a form of molecular bonded polycarbide) are known as Travel Machines but in general, the machine and the creature inside are known as Daleks with most people making no distinction between the two.

Daleks are not, however, robots. 

Just think of it as a xenophobic, homicidal mutant squid in a tin can and you get the idea. 

Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum.

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