On my Kitchenaid Tall Tub
I always assumed the pauses were due to sensing. Because, when you choose one of the cycles that are sensor cycles, Normal, Heavy, Light/China. The Machine will fill pause, until the correct amount of water is obtained. Then there are several pauses during the cycle, which again I assumed were due to the sensor.
If you choose the 1 hr cycle, no sensor. The machine fills to the maximum amount washes, drains, fills. No pausing. Also goes to mention that the 1 hr cycle does not allow options so it doesn't have need to pause to heat water etc.