Omnidroid

Omnidroid is a series of intelligent and destructive fictional robots developed by Syndrome in the Disney/Pixar movie The Incredibles.

Background

As a child Buddy (later Syndrome) held superheroes, especially Mr. Incredible, in high esteem. As a techno-wiz, Syndrome built gadgets which allowed him to perform some of the functions that superheroes could, such as fly. However when he tried to aid Mr Incredible in a mission, inadvertently allowing the bad guy (Bomb Voyage) to get away, Mr Incredible firmly tells Buddy that "I work alone".

Angered by this, Buddy returns home and plots, over the course of the next 15 years, his revenge against all superheroes, especially Mr. Incredible. He constructs an elaborate and futuristic hideout to develop and sell advanced weaponry. At the same time he begins design on the Omnidroid series of robots.

Syndrome's plan was to send an Omnidroid into a populated zone and have it start wreaking havoc. Then, using his sophisticated weaponry and knowledge and remote control of the robot, he could then defeat it, making it appear as if he were superpowered. Out of spite for supers, however, he would then go on to sell his inventions, both to make money, and because he believed that 'If everyone's super, no one will be.'

During the design phase, each Omnidroid revision was tested on various superheroes. These superheroes were lured or tricked, through various means, to the secret laboratory. As each Omnidroid was defeated by a "super", it was upgraded then retested. Mr Incredible is also used to test the Omnidroid in this way, tricked onto the island by thinking that he is being employed by a secret government agency to defeat the latest robot which has apparently gone rampant.

Omnidroid Design

Each Omnidroid is designed to be intelligent and learn from its mistakes. In addition, each Omnidroid contained some form of sensor system, locomotion system, and grappling arms and claws, though in later models the locomotion system was combined with the arms and claws.

The earlier models only appear on Syndrome's computer in the middle of the film, with a descriptor of who defeated each model, and which features it employed.

v.X1

This Omnidroid features "treaded locomotion, omni-sensory display, bi-articulated grappling claws".

Physically it looks like a tin can on wheels, though it is more likely they are caterpillar tracks, based on the computer readout in the film. It was the first model in the Omnidroid series and very primitive.

It managed to beat Universal Man, Psycwave and Everseer, but was eventually defeated by Macroburst.

v.X2

Though not all the features of this Omnidroid can be determined, it is known to have "Bipedal locomotion, omni-directional sensory array, articulated grappling claws".

Its physical appearance is somewhat similar to the v.X1, though the tracks are replaced by legs.

This model managed to beat Macroburst, Phylange, Blazestone as well as several other unidentified superheroes, and was eventually defeated by an unknown party, thought to be Downburst.

v.X3

The features of this model are stated to be "Suspended tri-pedal locomotion/grappling claws, unidirectional sensory array".

The feature set suggest upgrades to the v.X2 with the same eye, but with three combination legs/arms instead of two of each.

This model managed to beat Downburst and other unidentified superheroes, and was eventually defeated by Hyper Shock.

v.X4

The features of this model are stated to be "Quadra-pedal locomotion/grappling claws, quadra-directional sensory array".

Its appearance is that of a tall, upside-down egg shaped object, smaller than previous models, with four legs and four eyes.

This model manages to beat Hyper Shock, Apogee, Blitzerman, Tradewind and Vectress; defeated by Gazerbeam.

v.X5

This particular model is not actually numbered onscreen, but logical deduction concludes that it is the fifth model in the Omnidroid series. Nothing is known of its feature set, but its physical appearance is that of a traditional UFO with four legs, flattened on the top, tapering to the bottom.

This model apparently beats Gazerbeam (later found dead in an underwater cave) and Stormicide but is defeated by Gamma Jack.

v.X6

As with the v.X5, the model is never actually numbered in the film, but logical deduction again concludes that it is the sixth model.

The physical appearance seems to be the first of the distinctive, completely spherical bodies that show up in the later models. It also appears to still only have four legs and the familiar sensor cluster on top of its head.

This model defeats Gamma Jack and probably other unidentified superheroes. It isn't actually known whether it was defeated by a superhero, or retired in favor of the later v.X7

v.X7

This is the first model to appear anywhere other than Syndrome's computer - the blueprints are seen onboard Syndrome's aircraft, as Mr Incredible is briefed by Mirage. This is also the first model where the internal structure can also be viewed in the movie.

The physical structure is a direct improvement of v.X6 - it has a spherical body, five rather than four legs, four-pointed claws and the familiar "bipolar sensor array."

v.X8

This is the first model to actually appear in the movie, and the one which Mr Incredible initially fights. Its physical appearance is somewhat similar to the v.X7 (which by this time seems to have been retired in favor of the X8) with the spherical body and five legs. However other major features can also be seen in the initial fight scene - the legs are able to completely retract into the body, and the sensor array is able to appear out both the top and bottom of the robot simultaneously, a feature introduced after v.X6.

In addition, the external shell of the robot appears to exhibit significant strength and is able to withstand large amounts of stress and survive being submerged in lava, the Omnidroid punched holes in the outer shell and ripped out the electrical core, a design flaw of the robot which is exploited by Mr Incredible in the fight.

v.X9

This is the second model to which Mr Incredible is introduced. The robot seems to display no extra physical upgrades, aside from the sensor array being adjusted from a blue color to orange-red and being significantly larger. It is believed, though, that the robot was upgraded internally, in terms of intelligence and speed. Also, it is notable that this Omnidroid was solely controlled by Syndrome's remote. This Omnidroid hurled Mr. Incredible twice.

v.X10

According to Syndrome's computer, this is the final version of the Omnidroid to be built, and is the one slated to attack Metroville. It appears to exhibit several physical enhancement from v.X9, such as six legs, a great increase in size, and a laser cannon, something not seen on previous models. However, unlike the rest of the robot, the attachment of this laser seems rather crude and less stable, as it is easily destroyed. It is apparently more independent then the other models as it manages to "betray" Syndrome. It has rockets on its claws, but it is only seen with them used when Violet activates them accidentally.

The robot also appears to show increased intelligence - when Syndrome finally tries to control this version with the remote control, the remote control takes effect, but the robot determines the source of remote control and does everything it can to disable it, even when the remote is being used by its own creator.

In the movie the Omnidroid attacks Retroville, and begins destroying it, until Syndrome comes and begins to fight it, using his remote to take off one of the limbs. After it scans its lost limb and manages to defeat Syndrome, it later fights the Incredibles and Frozone. It was winning against them until Mr. Incredible finds the remote (blown off Syndrome's hand by the robot) and remembers the design flaw. Elastigirl (a.k.a Helen Parr) manages to activate one of its emputated claws' rockets, launching the claw through the droid's armor and removing the electrical core, thus making the Omnidroid v.x10 implode.

External links

• Omnidroid@Everything2.com (Original text)