It's Exactly Like You in Every Way... and 1/8 Your Size

by Ben

October 7, 2005

One strange fact in some war dramas such as Gundam is a lack of smaller humanoid robots. There are a few exceptions, but even those rare occasions where humanoid robots do exist, they are perceived with concern and mystery. This is a strange fact of the Gundam universe, and it leaves open a number of questions about why there aren’t any robots simply walking around, except 45 foot tall mecha.

Certainly, smaller robots and androids have their faults. They can’t carry huge railguns. They can’t load up a beam saber. Then again, that’s not really the point either. Smaller robots and androids posses the ability to integrate themselves into society. We know that the state of robotics and AI in the Gundam universe is good enough that humanoid robots could easily fit into society, but instead we get Haros and Toriis. So why is it that they don’t seem to be around? I’ve got a couple theories on that.

Theory #1 – Hostile Takeover
At one point or another, the humanoid robots of tomorrow decided to start taking over the world. They figured, humans were a waste of space and decided to annihilate us. In retaliation, we launched a massive EMP (electromagnetic pulse) all over the planet, destroying all computing technology. When we started over, there was a law – no robots smarter than a toothpick. In order to meet their big genital quotient, scientists decided bigger is better and started making BIG humanoid robots, but with limited ability to think or make decisions.

Theory #2 – Cost
It is very likely that the reason the technology never developed was cost. As we see in many Gundam series, most mobile suit’s aren’t made from top notch materials. They are about the same durability as today’s automobiles, and about twice as complex. A Guntank is simply a tank with a couple extra buttons and rotational controls. The cost to develop a complicated AI system might just not have been worthwhile.

Theory #3 – Fear
Everyone fears what they don’t understand… for example, I fear the undying idiocy of Gundam SEED DESTINY. Perhaps in the Gundam world, people were more afraid of a machine more intelligent that Coordinators or living CPUs than they were of anything they each had in store for each other.

And last but not least Theory #4 – I’m wrong
What if, EVERYONE was a robot?? A living, breathing biomechanical being! It would explain an awful lot. Coordinators/Newtypes/special people would simply be beings that have gone beyond their original programming, while normal/Natural/Oldtype people are simply robots who haven’t quite reached version 2.0. Who knows? Perhaps with advanced intellect comes telekinetic, psychic, multifaceted understanding. And what if version 2.0 was actually a very selective computer virus? It would explain why Newtypes were so rare. And it would also explain why there are Haros and Toriis. They are simply the slave class of the series. The mecha, they make up the working class of society. They do all the hard work while the smaller robots do what they want. Slave drivers.

So there you have four possible theories on why there are almost no humanoid robots in Gundam.

P.S. G Gundam doesn't count.

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