Protectron ( Fallout 3 ) Protectrons are a type of robot encountered in the Capital Wasteland in 2277 . Background . Many protectrons were commissioned by the U . S . Army before the Great War of 2077 . They are painted a dark olive drab with a white star on their chest . These mechanized soldiers still wander the wastes , attacking everything from radroach es to Brotherhood Outcasts . Interestingly , the Brotherhood Outcasts use their own protectrons which are painted in rust and black . " The Pitt " adds a new variety of protectron called the " factory protectron " , which lacks a glass dome but possesses a single ocular lens , and a cage around the combat inhibitor . The top of where the dome would be appears to be made to look like a construction hard - hat and the body has a yellow coloration . " Broken Steel " adds " Enclave protectrons " , which appear to be much newer , with red glass domes and a polished steel - gray finish . A special red - painted protectron also appears at the House of Wares in " Point Lookout " . Protectrons in various areas have been programmed differently ; the protectrons in the Nuka - Cola plant for example , say that they are operating under the authority of the Nuka - Cola Corporation as they attack you , with the words " Nuka - Cola ! " being dubbed in from an exterior source . Other protectrons have even been supplied with sophisticated personalities , such as Button Gwinnett and Dean Dewey . A protectron with the basic personality loaded can execute " sequences " , lists of tasks to complete , such as patrolling an area for intruders or scanning passengers for tickets , in the case of the metro station protectrons . Some sequences may have been programmed by RobCo Industries , while others were written by robotics technicians at the locations where they are used . When not in use , a protectron unit is stored in a base pod , which also charges its battery . The protectron is connected to its base pod via radio uplink , and the pod is in turn linked to a control terminal or computer system , which can be hacked to release the protectron from stasis . Characteristics . Specifications . Protectrons have a glass dome on top of their heads that acts as an ocular lens that allows the protectron to scan its surroundings and act accordingly . In this glass dome is a laser emitter that shoots a high - powered laser . The protectron is equipped with this same laser in both of its " hands / claws " . The body of a protectron can swivel up to about 90 degrees to either side before having to step into a different position . All protectrons come with a combat inhibitor mounted on their back that allows them to selectively target opponents . The combat inhibitor is generally left exposed , making it easy to disable when approaching a protectron from behind . When the combat inhibitor is crippled , the robot will fly into a frenzy , automatically targeting the nearest possible target , regardless of any previous affiliation . Gameplay attributes . All protectrons have three laser weapons : one in each arm and another in their domed head . Due to it being similar to a laser pistol , they are ineffective at long - range attacks . Protectrons also lack any melee attack , and are slow to turn 180 degrees , leaving them vulnerable to attackers staying directly behind them . Variants . Protectron . These may be found roaming many parts of the wasteland . The player ' s first encounter with one may be Deputy Weld outside Megaton , but they will be found in many other places . Protectron carcasses are not uncommon , as robots will frequently attack stronger non - player characters , more often than not with fatal consequences to themselves . A Protectron is also found in the Chinese Intelligence bunker in Point Lookout ( add - on ) . Metro protectron . Metro protectrons are protectron s found in many metro stations . When approached , they will ask the player for a metro ticket . If the player possesses a ticket , then it will be automatically removed from their inventory and the protectron will remain friendly , continuing to walk around the metro station attacking any enemies . If the player does not possess a ticket , the protectron will turn hostile . On the Red and Blue metros in D . C . , the associated red and blue pass cards serve this purpose . Metro protectrons have the same stats as the standard Protectrons , despite their mundane functions . Nuka - Cola security . This model of protectron is only found active on the Nuka - Cola plant ' s factory floor . They are easily identified due to their distinctive color scheme , possessing a red border around their head and hands , with the logo of the Nuka - Cola Corporation emblazoned on their body . They are programmed with a generic guarding routine where they attack all intruders on sight . As part of this program , their speech systems are designed to fill in their owner ' s name with a recording ( in this case , the recording is , " " Nuka Cola ! " " ) . Factory protectron . This model of protectron can be found in the Nuka - Cola plant ' s storage and mixing vats room , along with a nukalurk . It is located in a holding pod and can be activated by the nearby terminal . If activated , it will then begin to patrol the room , confused but friendly . The factory protectron will request to see the player ' s office ID , and if the player does not have an ID in their inventory the Protectron will become hostile . If an ID card has been acquired , then the Protectron will remain friendly towards the player , and will attack the Nukalurks . Factory protectron ( " The Pitt " ) . These heavy duty industrial robots feature a reinforced " head " , a cage on their backs to help guard the combat inhibitor and a distinctive yellow coloring . Markings on the left side of the " head " reads CP 1143 - 85 . This model of protectron can be found in the Pitt steelyard , the Pitt underground and in the Supply plant . Maintenance protectron . This deactivated protectron appears only during the quest Reilly ' s Rangers . It will be found in a storage room of the Statesman Hotel ' s restaurant . Once the Lone Wanderer has reached the roof , Butcher will direct you to Donovan who asks you to retrieve the robot ' s fission battery , so it can be used to repair the broken elevator . Backup protection unit . A one of a kind named protectron model , which is locked up in a holding pod in the National Archives ' Archival Strongroom . The player may encounter it , but unlike the Thomas Jefferson robot , it cannot be reprogrammed during the last part of the quest Stealing Independence . It has the same appearance as Button Gwinnett . It was always intended to be a standby protection unit ready to be programmed in case any of the historical reenactor protection units broke down . Outcast protectron . This protectron model has been reprogrammed by the Brotherhood Outcasts , and is generally found being used as a sentry or to supplement Outcast patrols . One can be found patrolling the overpass bridge near Fort Independence , while others may be randomly encountered with Brotherhood Outcast patrols near Vault 101 or the Scrapyard . Outcast protectrons do not have the blue color of the common protectron , nor the typical Outcast red paint job , but are instead decorated with a rusty , brownish color . They will sometimes refrain from assisting other Outcasts , such as during the Raider attack on Fort Independence . Behind the scenes . Protectrons are modeled after from the 1956 sci - fi movie , " " .