Protectron (Fallout 3)

A protectron is a pre-War robot type, seen in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.

Background
As their name suggests, the Protectron series of robot was devised primarily for protection and security operations, though their secondary programming is very modular and they can do many things from being greeters, ticket collectors and bartenders, or they can even functioning as celebrity or historical figure impersonators. They were created by the RobCo corporation.

Many protectron robots were commissioned by the U.S. Army before the Great War. They are painted a dark olive drab with the Army's white star on their chest. These mechanized soldiers are still wandering the wastes, attacking everything from radroaches to Brotherhood Outcasts. Interestingly, you will also see the Brotherhood Outcasts using their own protectrons, which have a orange-and-black-flecked paint job. The Pitt adds a new variety of protectron called the "factory protectron," which lacks a glass dome but possesses a singular ocular lens, and a cage around the combat inhibitor. The top of where the dome would be, appears to be made to look like a construction hard-hat. Broken Steel adds Enclave protectrons, which appear to be much newer, with red glass domes and a steel-gray finish. A special red-painted protectron appears in the House of Wares in Point Lookout.

Many protectrons in various areas have been programmed differently; the protectrons within the Nuka-Cola Factory, for example, mention that they are operating under the authority of the Nuka-Cola Corporation as they attack you, with the words "Nuka-Cola!" being dubbed in from an exterior source. Other protectrons have even been supplied with sophisticated personalities, such as Button Gwinnett or Deputy Weld, but these are the exception rather than the rule.

A protectron with the basic personality loaded on it can execute 'sequences', lists of tasks to complete, such as patrolling an area for intruders. Some sequences may have been added by Robco whereas others were written by robotics technicians at locations where they are used. When not in use, a protectron unit is stored in a base pod, which charges its battery. The protectron is connected to its base pod via radio uplink, and the pod is in turn connected to a control terminal or a computer system.

Characteristics
Protectrons are one of the weaker robots in Fallout 3 and can be destroyed with most mid-level weapons or explosives (such as grenades). Despite being somewhat more durable than the typical raider, their poor armor means their lifespan is likely to be quite short. They are grey.

They have three laser weapons built into their frame, one in each arm and another one in their head. They are hardly the best shots, although sustained fire can put a dent in the player character's health.

Like most robots in Fallout 3, the protectron has a Combat Inhibitor on its back. Crippling this part of the robot will cause it to frenzy and start attacking all targets indiscriminately.

In Fallout: New Vegas protectrons are significantly tougher and difficult to bring down with standard Ammunition or hollow point ammunition. The only way to effectivelly bring one down without obscene amounts of ammo or pulse grenades) is to equip Armor Piercing rounds. Once equipped these rounds take apprx. 5 shots to the head with a Varmint rifle or Service rifle chambered in 5.56 to bring down a standard protectron.

Notable quotes

 * "Do not be alarmed. Law and order will be restored shortly."
 * "Put down your weapons and submit to authority."
 * "Critters of unusual size detected."
 * "Tickets, please."
 * "Commencing attack on hostile."

Appearances
Protectrons appear in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.

Bugs

 * Protectrons are known to have physics glitches when laying dead in ragdoll mode, specifically when transiting from a cell via doorway into one with a dead protectron in it, or when loading a saved game with a dead protectron in the vicinity. When this happens, they get flung high into the air.

Behind the scenes
Protectrons are modeled after Robby the Robot.