Robot

For the story of the same name see DW: Robot (TV story).

A robot is a mechanical device with the ability to do work without the help of a living organism. The most common type of robot is an android (a humanoid robot, e.g. Kamelion, who could also shape-shift). (DW: The King's Demons). However, robots also come in various forms such as dog-like (e.g. K-9). (DW: The Invisible Enemy)

On many planets, robots were used as a servile labour force. Their appearance sometimes generated strong emotions among people, a condition known as Robophobia or Grimwade's Syndrome. (DW: The Robots of Death)

They were powered in many different ways such as by Black light. (DW: Four to Doomsday)

Although programmed with several hundred safety protocols inhibiting violence, a skilled mechanic could bypass these (see Taren Capel), allowing the robot to wreak havoc. (DW: The Robots of Death)

Although robots were mainly used for manual labour, there have been occasions when they have been used for militant purposes by a wide variety of species. The most perfected of these killing machines was the Raston Warrior Robot. (DW: The Five Doctors)

Smilers are robots aboard the Starship UK, that teach children and are also the law enforcement on the ship. (DW: The Beast Below)

History
Robots existed throughout the universe in various times, for various purposes. On Earth, humans used robots for their own purposes, and also for assistance and company. (DW: The Robots of Death) They were used in similar ways by the people of Sto; aboard the Starship Titanic, robots were dressed as Christmas Angel's, and used for information. (DW: Voyage of the Damned)

By the year 2059, humans were allowed to have domestic robots, and they were also allowed to customise them (DW: The Waters of Mars) It was spoken by Roman Groom that a friend had made her domestic robot look like a dog. In Bowie Base One in the year 2059, the team owned a robot called GADGET, who assisted them. (DW: The Waters of Mars) In the 51st century, Professor Marius missed his dog, so built a computer in the form of a dog, called K9 Mark I. (DW: The Invisible Enemy) K9 travelled with The Doctor and Leela, and left The Doctor, to stay with Leela on Gallifrey. (DW: The Invasion of Time) The Doctor later built K9 Mark II and travelled with him until he left with Romana II. (DW: Warriors Gate). K9 Mark III was also built by The Doctor and given in the past to Sarah-Jane Smith. (K9 and Company) Sarah Jane kept the robot dog throughout the 80s, 90s and up until 2007, when he sacrificed himself to stop the Krillitane group. (DW : School Reunion) The Doctor built K9 Mark IV soon after for Sarah-Jane. K9 Mark IV helped Sarah Jane seal a Black hole, as well as fight various aliens, and helped restore the Earth to it's original time-space location. (SJA: Invasion of the Bane, The Lost Boy, DW: Journey's End, SJA: The Mad Woman in the Attic, The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith, The Gift) K9 Mark I ended up on 2050 Earth sometime before the destruction of Gallifrey, where he helped save the world various times. (K-9 (TV series)).

Robots have generally been used by organics and cyborgs for their own purposes throughout the history of the universe. On 20th century Earth, a highly advanced robot was used by Think Tank in an attempt to conquer the world. (DW: Robot) The Heavenly Host were controlled by Max Capricorn to kill those aboard the ship. (DW: Voyage of the Damned)

Cyborgs such as the Cybermen have also used robots. (DW: Earthshock)

Emotions and Awareness
Several forms of robots have been implied to have thoughts and feelings of their own. K9 Mark I showed signs of "sulking", (DW: The Invasion of Time) and the later models have done similar things since. the K1 Robot showed signs of self awareness, and a desire to spare Sarah-Jane's life. (DW: Robot) Robots also show signs of confusion, when they are told things that contradict facts or programming. Robots tend to show little emotion, care or understanding towards organics, and usually do as they are programmed. They often turn against their masters, but usually because they have been reprogrammed by others to do so, not because of self-awareness. It is evident that robots such as K9 or K1 have awareness, and are not just ordinary machines. Some robots also have their own desires, (e.g K9 desires affection, and K1 desired for Sarah-Jane to live.)

Creators of Robots
For every robot, there was a creator, or creators, whether it were humans creating robots, or robots creating other robots. Marius for example invented K9 Mark I, and The Doctor built K9 Mark II and K9 Mark IV and it is believed K9 Mark III. The K1 Robot was built by Professor Kettlewell (DW: Robot). Robots can also be fixed or tampered with. Morvin Van Hoff and his wife Foon Van Hoff worked in the Milk Market on Sto and they were able to fix robots. They displayed these skills by reactivating a Heavenly Host. Max Capricorn, or somebody associated with him had the Heavenly Host slaves reprogrammed. (DW: Voyage of the Damned) Taren Capel was capable of reprogramming the Voc robot slaves. (DW: The Robots of Death)