Securitron

The PDQ-88b securitron (also named the RobCo security model 2060-B) is a private security robot created and mass-produced by House Industries with the help of RobCo Industries. Privately and on a much smaller scale, another model was produced by the Big MT research company, who were primarily attempting to improve the original. They are commonly found patrolling The Strip. They can also be found around Big MT and inside the Lucky 38.

Specifications
The PDQ-88b Securitron is a fairly large, monowheel robot with a titanium alloy housing, resistant to shrapnel and small arms fire, with a screen capable of displaying a wide array of images, from static images to pre-war commercials. The PDQ-88b Securitron is heavily-armed. Its left arm contains its primary weapon, a Glastinghouse, Inc. X-25 Gatling laser for medium range engagements. For close-range suppression and crowd control, the Securitron mounts a 9mm machinegun in its right arm. However, these are only secondary weapons: concealed compartments on its shoulders contain M-235 missile launchers for long range and surface-to-air engagements, and a rapid-fire G-28 grenade launching system for close range engagements. The robots also have onboard auto-repair systems to repair any damage sustained from combat. Thus armed, a Securitron can handle nearly any combat situation.

The PDQ-88b Securitron supports two operating systems: Mk I and Mk II. The Mk I operating system lacks drivers for the auto-repair systems and shoulder-mounted weapons, limiting the robot's arsenal to the built-in X-25 Gatling laser and the 9mm cannon. The Mk II operating system enables the M-235 missile launchers, the rapid-fire G-28 grenade launching system and the auto-repair system. As estimated by Mr. House and Yes Man, the combat effectiveness of each Securitron unit is improved by 235% by the upgrade.

A large number of PDQ-88b Securitron units were acquired by the Big MT company for reverse engineering (fueled by Dr 0's bitter hatred of Robert House), with the aim of creating a superior model. However, these efforts were ineffective: the only functional unit created by Doctor 0 was Muggy, a miniature, cookware-obsessed robot. Other Securitrons, while benefitting from increased accuracy, firepower and more efficient self-repair routines provided by Big MT firmware (Mk I through VI), are either berserk or irreparably damaged due to critical errors in Dr 0's operating systems.

A final feature of the Securitron is the housed printer inside their chassis, able to receive broadcasts and print leaflets, such as obituaries, should such an occasion occur.

House Industries
These are the models created by House Industries, the original creator of the PDQ-88b securitron, with the help of RobCo Industries. After the Great War, they are almost all controlled by Mr. House, and can be upgraded via the platinum chip.

Mark I
The securitron Mk I can only use the X-25 Gatling laser and the 9mm submachine gun, and it cannot use its auto-repair systems. The unit's face is a police officer wearing a police hat.

* The securitron Mk I's on The Strip have a DT of 0. The securitrons in Freeside and inside the Lucky 38 have the normal DT of 20.

* Mark 1s have grenade launchers instead of X-25s, and will use it frequently despite them supposedly not having the software drivers for them.

Mark II
Through the use of the platinum chip, the Courier may upgrade the securitrons of Mr. House or Yes Man at The Fort and around The Strip to the Mark II operating system. The securitron Mk II can use all the built-in weapons: the 9mm submachine gun, the rapid-fire G-28 25mm grenade launcher, the M-235 missile launchers, and the X-25 Gatling laser system. However, outside of the Lucky 38 basement demonstration, it only ever uses the last 3. It can also use the auto-repair systems, and its armor is increased. The unit's face is that of an American soldier wearing an M1 combat helmet and smoking a cigar.

Big MT company
There is a new line of securitrons created in Big MT by 0|Doctor 0 and his team to surpass the PDQ-88b securitron created by House Industries and Robert House (the latter considered by 0 to be his greatest enemy). These efforts succeeded to a degree, as a Mk VI securitron operating system was developed. However, these never reached full production, and as of 2281, all of Big MT securitrons are either irreparably damaged or have gone berserk due to lack of maintenance for over 200 years. Because of this, they lack any functional armor, as well.

Berserk series
The face of the berserk PDQ-88b securitron unit is a distorted face, similar to the "angry moon" featured in the film A Trip to the Moon. The berserk model has the ability to use the rocket launchers in its shoulders and the laser in its arm, but not the grenade launcher or machine gun.

Damaged series
The unit's face of the damaged PDQ-88b securitron is the berserk one's face crossed out. It can use the grenade launcher and machine gun, but not the other weapons.

Notable PDQ-88b securitrons

 * Yes Man
 * Victor
 * Jane
 * Marilyn
 * Muggy
 * 010011110110111001100101

Appearances
PDQ-88b securitrons appear in Fallout: New Vegas and its add-on Old World Blues.

Behind the scenes
"Working on the Securitron was a grand adventure. He was one of the main characters and part of the main narrative of the game. The player spent quite a bit of time hanging out around the Securitron. The Securitron creature had just over 80 animations and 5 weapon types. It was fun trying to figure out where he was hiding all 5 weapon types, and how to get him to equip and reload them. I had a blast working with the character artist who molded him. We worked out how to switch screens, switch weapons, and blow off his body parts. With the advice of one of the other animators we got him to vibrate a bit all the time that way it looks like some type of car engine was working somewhere beneath his exterior. I used a lot of little tricks I've collect over the years to make this implausible character look plausible. Good times. :D"

- Shon Stewart


 * Kevin Manning created the Securitron model.
 * The berserk Securitrons in Old World Blues have a face similar to a piece of clip art known as "Angry Moon". This piece of clip art was taken from the cover of sheet music to the song "Stingy" by J. Fred Helf and Ed. Gardenier published in 1904.


 * Securitrons may say This is a reference to RoboCop, who uses the same line.
 * Likewise, if the Courier chooses to frame Heck Gunderson for his son's murder during the Beyond the Beef quest, the securitron will say before shooting him dead.
 * When in combat, securitrons guarding The Strip North Gate will occasionally say This is a reference to the Daleks from Doctor Who.

Bugs

 * While inside The Strip, if you kill a securitron with a head shot and destroying its TV monitor, the screen will still be present but the surrounding edges around the screen shows that the screen was destroyed.
 * The securitrons may sometimes keep swapping weapons without even attacking the enemy.
 * When passing the Science check with the securitron gatekeeper, and talking to it again saying goodbye, the securitrons might turn hostile while attempting to enter the Strip.
 * It is possible that opening Mr. House's Antechamber may only cause a couple of his securitrons in his penthouse to become hostile, even after destroying some of them.
 * Its possible that none of the securitrons will become hostile when opening Mr. House's antechamber.
 * The securitrons at the Battle of Hoover Dam (if you fought for an independent New Vegas) will not switch from their shoulder mounted rocket launchers, often blowing themselves up within minutes of the battle. However, if you side with House, this does not happen.
 * Occasionally, a Securitron may be able to use its grenade launcher despite being Mark I.