Robots

A robot is a programmable machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically, sometimes independent of their controller/creator. They are often designed to mimic human movements, and exceed their biological capabilities, allowing them to achieve feats considered impossible by humans. Robots can be programmed with our without an artificial intelligence, depending on if the creator intends for the robot to be controlled by a designated user, or for it to control itself.

Automata
The construction of robots goes back to the notion of automata, which were self-operating machines functioning in a manner of ways. The concept of automata has its roots in numerous mythologies of many cultures around the world, including Ancient Greece,Ancient China and Ptolemaic Egypt. . The latter civilisations attempted to build self-operating machines, some of which resembled animals and humans. Some of the first of these automata were built in 10th Century BCE in the Western Zhou Dynasty, where an artist named Yan Shi made a humanoid automata that could sing and dance. It supposedly possessed lifelike but fake organs, like muscles, joints and bones.

The ultimate attempt at an automaton was the Turk by Wolgang von Kempelen, an intricate machine designed to play chess against a human opponent. Unfortunately, the Turk was proven to be entirely fake, and a hoax, as it turned out that inside the desk, where the machinery supposely lay, was space where a human chess player would hide. This play would control the "machine" and play the match for them. Automata as a concept was thus much more critically examined after the Turk's fakery was uncovered.

Modern History
The concept of robotics was first introduced by the novelist L. Frank Baum in his Oz series of children's books, starting in 1900 with the award-winning The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. In the book, more contemporary technology was introduced, namely the cyborg Tin Man, whose limbs, head and body were replaced with cybernetics after his wicked axe had severed them.

The term 'robot' actually originates from the Czech word for forced labor or servitude, robota. This reason for is this is because the term was first used in a satirical Czech play by Karel Čapek in 1920, in which "robots" were manufactured biological beings designed specifically for manual labor. However, the word was actually pronounced "robit" until the 1950s.

The actual field of robotics was established in 1941 and 1942, when Isaac Asimov formulated the Three Laws of Robotics for which all currently manufactured robots are required to follow. Although, the validity and efficacy of these three laws have been brought into question multiple times.

The very first digitally operated and completely programmable robot was invented by George Devol in 1954, which eventually became known as the Unimate. The Unimate built the foundations of robotics itself.

Present Day
Nowadays, robots have become exceedingly advanced, now taking the place of many human workers in factories. By 2030, robots are claimed to have taken over 800 million jobs. Humanoid robots, such as the ASIMO and Atlas, have been introduced, however humanoid versions are not entirely preferred, as intelligent AGVs are designed for practicality and effectiveness over looks.

Robots in the present day have been seen on Earth-1 and Earth-38 and Earth-X, though not specifically on Earth.

Earth-1
On Earth-1 there have been numerous, such as simple cuddly toys like Beebo as part of the "Cuddle Me Beebo" toy brand. Brie Larvan also created robots, such as her combat robot and her beloved robotic bees, the latter could inject lethal amounts of apitoxin, despite originally being intended for agricultural purposes. A.M.A.Z.O. was another robot also, invented by Ivo Laboratories with an artificial intelligence and the ability to copy the physiological proficiencies of others. John Deegan, in the guise of Superman, also created a version of A.M.A.Z.O. using the Book of Destiny, although it was easily destroyed by Brainiac 5 Other robots on Earth-1 include Marlize DeVoe's Samuroid and further Samurai robots, Cisco's primitive Girder combat robot and an unknown metallic creature from a presumably erased future. .

Earth-38
On Earth-38, Red Tornado was a combat android designed by T.O. Morrow to kill Kryptonians. It was autonomous, containing its own artificial intelligence. It took a billion dollars and eleven years to produce, only for it to be destroyed at the hands of Kara Danvers. Krypton also possessed its own robots, created by Kryptonians, particularly as personal assistants with semi-autonomy and a unique AI. Such examples include Kelex, the name of many robots, one of which safeguarded the Fortress of Solitude. It could draw upon an extensive database of Kryptonian knowledge.

Earth-X
On Earth-X, there existed a version of Red Tornado, where it was a military robot used by general Winn Schott of the Freedom Fighters. It was destroyed by the Flash and the Ray to prevent it from destroying a temporal gateway leading back to Earth-1.

Future
In the future, robots become even more advanced than they are currently. In 2147, A.T.O.M. robots were created based on the designs of the A.T.O.M. Exosuit by Ray Palmer, although his brother Sydney Palmer claimed to be the creator. He began the development of autonomous robotic law enforcers, which were used by the Kasnia Conglomerate to act as their defense force, however they would later to be used by Vandal Savage to aid in his conquest of Earth, though this outcome was averted when Ray Palmer and Kendra Saunders convinced Dr. Bryce to deactivate them.

Robots also become so advanced in the future that they are capable of supporting massive sizes. The Leviathan is an example of this. A large military robot, the Leviathan was capable of wiping out whole settlements with its weaponry. It was created by Vandal Savage and his order in 2166, however the technology used to create it was at least a century ahead of where it belonged, as Savage used time travel to help construct it. It was danger to the timeline, and would have easily resulting the Vandal Savage's victory, if it had been for Ray Palmer using his Exosuit to enlarge himself and ultimately destroying the robot.

Powers
Robots can have various abilities depending on the technology implemented into them. Robots intended for combat purposes tend to include more weaponry and are more reinforced than simple assisant robots such as Kelex. For example, the Leviathan:
 * Condensed light blasts: The Leviathan was able to use "hard light" projectiles, similar to the A.T.O.M. robots.
 * Flight: The Leviathan had limited flight capability.
 * Physical fighting: As a military robot, the Leviathan used its massive body for physical fighting, able to destroy whole villages with a step and combat targets of a similar size.