Robobrain

Robobrains or brain bots are multi-purpose robots whose memory and programs are stored inside an organic or partially organic brain contained in its dome shell atop the machine. Robobrains were created before the Great War by General Atomics International for the U.S. military and for the civilian sector. They are considered superior to most robots, as human brains allow them a wider range of responses and functions than other robots. Their hands are suited to use most tools and weapons usable by humans.

Military variants of the Robobrains had alphanumeric identifying serial numbers, following the format of RB-1234.

Construction
A typical Robobrain moves on a tracked chassis (using dual 40 hp motors), either fixed or on a flexible mount, attached to a sizable cylindrical torso with a hardened glass dome on top, housing the central processing unit with the brain suspended inside. In addition, to use consoles, operate levels or engage targets with weapons, they have two flexible manipulators on the sides of their torsos. Robobrains were going to be the next wave in warfare but their costs made it slow to implement.

The brain is suspended in pressurized biomed gel (which is the primary factor in keeping the brains alive for centuries even). Any damage to the casing or the brain itself can disrupt brainwaves and damage the connection to the rest of the body, affecting the robot's performance. Officially, only chimpanzee brains were being used, but at least some used human brains taken from convicted criminals. Many of these subjects were insane, so they are not entirely mentally stable, despite complete reprogramming, usually with the CODE technology.

Feeding the brain information about its surroundings are special sensors (typically with 2076 software installed, Sensors '76 . Apart from providing real-time high resolution feed of the surroundings, they are also capable of switching to infrared mode, in case the main sensors, for one reason or another, become useless.

The manipulators in some models are designed to operate regular human weaponry (such as AK-112 Assault Rifles), while some have integrated laser guns (wattage equivalent to AEP7 Laser Pistols), supported by integrated Mesmetron devices.

In addition, they have a built-in voice synthesizer.

Programming
Robobrains, due to their organic processor, can be programmed with much more complex and much more expansive programs than typical robots. This also means they are superior to typical combat robots, at least in terms of tactics and strategy. Military maintenance bots can be controlled via a WLAN matrix network. In this case, a central AI operates the bots. In Mariposa, the programs used to run robobrains were Facility Maintenance v2.1, Movement v4.8b, Repair v0.8a, Pest Control v1.4, Hearts v1.0 and Sensors '76.

However, it is imperative that they are routinely memory wiped, as it is possible for the brain to break it's programming (CODE or other types) and develop serious personality quirks. In Fallout 3 many suffer from this fate and seem to have grown to dislike what they were programmed for, but at the same time can do nothing to stop themselves from carrying out their programmed orders. This is hinted at by their battle cries of (but not limited to) "Please don't take this personally," "They could have programed me to love, to forgive, but nnnoooo," and "When this is all over, I hope we can still be friends." However some seem to enjoy what they have been programmed to do, with disturbing remarks such as: "Don't be afraid, I've become quite good at killing".

Robobrains in the Capital Wasteland have a noticeably feminine personality, in both voice tone and speech, however this could be a result of their reprogramming. A special, brainless Robobrain called Masterbrain can be found in the Vault-Tec Headquarters in DC. There are also non hostile, essential (Immortal) Robobrains in Vault 112. It is also notable that the Brotherhood of Steel Outcasts have painted and re-programmed several robobrains for their own use.

West Coast
Robobrains in California and neighboring States do not posses integrated weapon systems inside their frame. Rather, their flexible arms and organic processors were tailored to use regular firearms (such as rifles) in combat, something they are able to do with disturbing efficiency. Most pre-War robobrains (such as those in the Glow) carry sniper rifles and assault rifles, although units with City-Killer Combat Shotguns were also sighted.

East Coast
Robobrains are substantially more durable, accurate, and dangerous than the more commonly-encountered Protectron robot. Armed with a pair of integrated laser weapons roughly equal in power to a Laser Pistol, the Robobrain is a moderate threat, though easy to damage due to their size and extreme vulnerability to head shots. On the back of every Robobrain is a Combat Inhibitor which, if crippled, will cause the RoboBrain to frenzy, attacking everything indiscriminately.

One thing to note is that Robobrains possess an in-built Mesmetron device. This attack doesn't cause much damage, but if it manages to hit, it instantly cripples your head (dealing 1000 damage to the body part) and gives you the Concussion status effect, resulting in blurred vision, hindered accuracy, and -4 base perception. This attack is used to discourage melee and close-range combatants from getting too close, as that is where the Robobrain is weakest. Stay moving, and be ready to pump your head full of Stimpak goodness at a moment's notice.

There are two variations of the Robobrain model. The first, and most common, is the military variant. It is painted green and has a serial number. Less commonly, there is the grey colored model used in the civilian sector.

Later, with the Point Lookout add-on, a new varation of the Robobrain called the Robobrain Sentry is introduced. Their combat skills are the same, but they have sigificantly more health.

Quotes
Robobrains have many comical, yet quite morbid, dialogue programming. They strongly hint that while the brain has feelings for all forms of life, the robot programming makes it involuntarily kill.


 * "There's no use in hiding. I am programmed to be quite relentless, you know." -when looking for a target
 * "Are you still there?" -When looking for a target (possibly a reference to the game "Portal" from Valve)
 * "Where are you?" -When looking for a target (also a possible Portal reference)
 * "Please come back. I'm sorry about all that recent unpleasantness." -When looking for a target
 * "I'm sorry for all that shooting and flaming. It's just the way I was programmed." -When looking for a target
 * "I'll find you eventually, you know." -When searching for a target
 * "Why did you run away? I'm really not as scary as I look." -When giving up searching for an enemy
 * "Don't tease me like that." -When giving up searching for an enemy
 * "My search routines are quite advanced, don't you think?" -When finding a lost target
 * "I'm really quite good at killing things. You may want to run away now." -When finding a lost enemy
 * "Were you trying to hide from me?" -When finding a lost target
 * "I'm a much better tactician than you. It's all in the brain, you see." -When engaging a target
 * "Please lower your weapon and submit." -When engaging a target
 * "Tsk tsk. And I thought we could be friends." -When engaging a target
 * "Please believe me when I say I'm not enjoying this."
 * "Which do you like better, the psionic beam or the laser?" -When engaging a target
 * "My programming requires that I keep trying to kill you." -When engaging a target
 * "Nothing personal." -When engaging an enemy
 * "I calculate you chance of success to be...well, I don't want to be morbid..." -When engaging an enemy
 * "I'm not programmed to fail, just so you know..." -When engaging an enemy
 * "They could have programmed me to love, to forgive; but noooooo." While attacking at longer ranges.
 * "I hope we can still be friends after this." While attacking
 * "I'll miss you". -When deactivating
 * "Goodbye, frien-" When destroyed
 * "What are you-" When destroyed
 * "Oh no!" When destroyed
 * "You're quite a headache!" (Ironically) After head is crippled

Sierra Army Depot Robobrain
The Brain Bot in Sierra Army Depot is a partially complete one of these, who can be completed by the Chosen One with one of four different brains depending on his/her science skill (from worst to best): the Abnormal Brain, Chimpanzee Brain, Human Brain (90%), and Cybernetic Brain (121%).

The brains have varying levels of competence. The abnormal brain is the worst, unable to obey any commands. The chimpanzee brain can leave and rejoin the party on your command, like other NPCs (except Miria and Davin). The human brain gives the Brain Bot mediocre gunfighting skills. If you implant the cybernetic brain in the brain bot, the AI Skynet downloads itself onto this brain. This is the only version of Brain Bot which can level up, and is a skilled rifle and SMG fighter, with full self-repair algorithms.

Humanoid Brain Bot
After general Simon Barnaky was abducted by the Calculator's robots, his brain was put into a humanoid brain bot that served as the cybernetic protector of the Calculator and the game's final enemy (alongside several of the Calculators humanoid robots) before the confrontation with the Calculator itself at the end of the game.

Barnaky's new form was about the same size as a Super Mutant, and equipped with a left arm cannon that was a combination of machine gun and missile launcher, as well as a large claw on its right arm for melee combat. It had good armor (being a robot) and a few hundred hit points, and was a tougher-than-average opponent, although not nearly as powerful as, say, the Enclave's Frank Horrigan.

Appearances
Brain Bots appear in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3 and Fallout Tactics.

Behind the scenes

 * Herbert "Daring" Dashwood has a bit of a fascination with the Robobrain robot, and has often wondered what goes into making one. He mentions that he likes their "sexy voice". He also was exposed to its mind-blast once, and wrote later in his journals that "his head hurt for nearly a week afterwards."