Just to clarify, I agree with you that any company that is funded by the military is technically a military contracter. But the term has deeply negative connotation.

Anybody who is involved with DARPA funded research. In this case it might be a little easier to the see the parallels between a robot and a war machine.

The Internet itself was a DARPA funded, as was GPS and they can both be seen as tools in war at least as this was there initial intent.

So while that does classify those who worked on them as military contractors, it is important to understand that its not necessarily a negative label and the benefits are sometimes felt years onwards after the military tech trickles down.