Eyebot

The eyebot is a hovering propaganda-spewing robot with whip-like radio antennas resembling long "whiskers" pointing to its back, and loudspeakers in the front. After the Great War, it was used by Enclave forces in the Capital Wasteland by 2277.

Background
Eyebots are used by the Enclave on the East Coast for broadcasting the Enclave Radio, which consists of propaganda, presidential speeches, and patriotic marching music for the people of the Capital Wasteland. These propaganda broadcasts, delivered both over in-game radios, the Pip-Boy 3000, or via the robot's loudspeaker, mention that the American Government is watching, and will eventually rise to restore the former glory of the United States. If Raven Rock is destroyed, the robots will broadcast static.

Eyebots are armed with a weak laser called a Zapper, but are neutral to the player and other civilians (i.e. wastelanders). They will attack enemies like raiders and giant ants. The Brotherhood Outcasts also have a mutual animus with the eyebots (due to faction dispositions), and the Brotherhood of Steel presumably do as well (you will never see this, though, as the two do not share a sphere of influence). The eyebot has little health and explodes when destroyed, causing damage to anything close, including the player. Combined with their low experience reward and no loot (except in rare cases, and even then it's only one piece of scrap metal), eyebots are only useful for target practice. It appears that even though common sense might lead one to believe they are allied with the robotic enemies, rogue protectrons and robobrains have been observed destroying them. Despite being initially friendly, eyebots will attack anyone (including the player) they see fighting against the Enclave.

Random explosions frequently heard in the distance while roaming the wasteland can mostly be attributed to an eyebot self-destructing from damage.

Specifications
The eyebot is a small spherical robot, about the size of a human head, with a radio transmitter found on the front of the chassis and several long antennas protruding from the top and back of it's body. Below the transmitter is a small laser used in combat. The chassis is made of metal with a grill over the radio to protect it. It has the ability to float a short distance above the ground. The eyebot is not very durable and functions primarily as a portable radio.

Combat Statistics


Eyebots are hardly strong opponents, and the fact that they are (initially) friendly and will attack enemies that engage the player or other wastelanders, means that they are more beneficial than anything else. However, once the player finishes The Waters of Life or engages them in combat, they can pose a threat, especially in the former case where they will turn hostile if Enclave patrols are under attack.

The eyebot is armed with a Zapper, roughly equal in strength to an AEP7 laser pistol. It is frighteningly accurate with this weapon, and will rarely miss, even over considerable distances. While not a very damaging opponent, the eyebot's mobility, small size and high accuracy can make it a threat, especially if encountered in packs. Fortunately, they are not very durable and are easily destroyed, even with fists since they're the most fragile robot in the game.

Eyebots explode when killed causing damage to anything close by. Though high-level characters have little to fear, this explosion can be very dangerous for characters just starting off. Because eyebots are worth a paltry amount of experience anyway, it's generally a better idea to ignore them entirely unless they're hostile. Also, as eyebots attack most hostile creatures they can often be used as a distraction for creatures such as deathclaws and albino radscorpions (sometimes eyebots will be floating too high for radscorpions to reach) allowing you to either attack them or escape.

Because eyebots explode, they rarely leave a corpse, they will however leave a corpse if killed with a critical hit.

Fallout: New Vegas
Only one functioning eyebot that appears in Fallout: New Vegas. ED-E, an enhanced "duraframe" eyebot that was badly damaged as it was travelling to Navarro for upgrades and was acquired by the operator of the Mojave Express in Primm. It can join the Courier as one of his/her companions, using its modified sensors to detect enemies at long range while allowing the player to attack cloaked enemies with V.A.T.S.

There is also a deactivated "antique" variant which can be seen on display in REPCONN Headquarters, it does not have a protective faceplate over the camera and has two lasers rather than just one, and one very large antenna upon its top.

Excerpt from the description of the "antique" model in the REPCONN's museum:

"RobCo's always had an eye for robotics, and this little fellow is no different! This robotic marvel can not only recognize your face and voice with advanced facial and auditory recognition technology, it can also broadcast video and audio as well! Think of it - all the sights and sounds of your radio and TV in your living room at home blasted directly at you on the street, subway, bathroom, or wherever you may be! Never fear, you'll never miss a news bulletin or presidential address again, no matter where you are!

Exhibit Brought to You By Your Friends at RobCo"

There is also a cut content eyebot which appears in the GECK called the Sunset Sarsaparilla eyebot, but it does not exist in the actual game.

All Roads
A duraframe eyebot also features on the cover of the graphic novel All Roads. This eyebot looks like ED-E, but its identity is not confirmed.

Appearances
Eyebot appears in Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, All Roads and was to appear in Van Buren.

Behind the Scenes

 * In the book The Art of Fallout 3, an artist mentions that the eyebot was designed after the Sputnik-era satellites, probably mostly by the Sputnik 1.