An automaton doesn't output or return any values, nor does it take any input arguments when it starts. Instead, it works like a computer, and may have a number of ports, which are two-way channels used for data exchange. Data can be manually added to or removed from the ports, but automatons can also be connected through the ports to form a network, in which case one automaton's certain output channel becomes another automaton's input channel.
The purpose of automaton is to simplify complex flow controls and simplify function calls and data exchange. It may help design event-driven programs. At present automatons are an experimental feature. The future version might be implemented using threads provided by the operation system.