History Main / GoodOldRobot

* In ''RealSteel'', Atom is a previous generation sparring robot that was stored whole and fully functional (but uncleaned) in a parts depot. He has different strengths and weaknesses from current top of the line arena fighters, which allows him to survive when facing them.

* In ''RealSteel'', Atom is a previous generation sparring robot that was stored whole and fully functional in a parts depot. He has different strengths and weaknesses from current top of the line arena fighters, which allows him to survive when facing them.

* Joey in ''BeneathASteelSky''. Even though he's built from scrap parts found in garbage dumps in the Australian wasteland where Roberts' tribe lives, he manages to interact with, even outsmart, more modern robots/programs. Also, his circuit board seems to be compatible with most robots they encounter ([[spoiler:Even the latest type of artificial human LINC has created.]]).

* ''Pluto Nash''. The titular character's bodyguard robot can't run very fast and his speech is very noticeable RoboSpeak. But Pluto keeps him around for sentimental purposes.

* In ''[[IRobot I, Robot]]'', only the newer models of robot begin attacking humans. The older models actually fight against the new models briefly due to their unupdated programming.

** From ''Foundation'': R. Daneel Olviaw, even before [[spoiler:he aged 20,000 years]]
** In "The Bicentennial Man", Andrew (later known as Andrew Martin) is owned by the Martin family. Most other robots are leased and recycled after a number of years. After Andrew's "individuality" annoys the CEO of U.S. Robotics, the company buys back all old robots (the Martins refuse to sell) and destroys them. The company even later begins to reduce the intelligence of the robots, with all higher functions being done by central computers in communication with the robots. Sort of like [=PCs=] today, where you can buy netbooks and/or browser OS.

* Joey in ''BeneathASteelSky''. Even though he's built from scrap parts found in garbage dumps in the australian wasteland where Roberts' tribe lives, he manages to interact with, even outsmart, more modern robots/programs. Also, his circuit board seems to be compatible with most robots they encounter ([[spoiler:Even the latest type of artificial human LINC has created.]]).

* Dr. Wakemn of MyLifeAsATeenageRobot keeps [=XJs=] 1-8 around for no other reason than apparent sentimental value.

*** R2 is a bit of a subversion, actually. All of the model's since R2 have been technically more advanced, but also "region-locked" so that they can't include specialized parts, only parts produced by the robot manufacturing company. Which essentially means that from the point of view of a pilot, the newer models are worse than the R2 units, and have correspondingly sold terribly (there's actually a fairly large economy made up of solely refurbished R2 astro-droids, since they're still in high demand even though their manufacturer no longer produces them).

* ''{{Anachronox}}''

** It goes back to the original Star Wars movie (A New Hope). Before the final attack on the Death Star, an X-Wing mechanic notes to Luke that R2D2 is looking pretty banged up and asks if he wants a new one. Luke declines.

* In ''PowerRangersSPD,'' the robot dog RIC (Robotic Interactive Canine.) Run down and broken and given to making any sound ''but'' dog sounds, and annoying everyone, until finally [[HeroicSacrifice jumping into]] {{Mook}}-fire to save Syd. The others wanted to just recycle him, but Syd couldn't bear to, and got the tech-savvy Bridge and Boom to work on him. The result is a DoAnythingRobot that even turns into a "[=K9=] Cannon" for a FinishingMove... though a lot of fans preferred RIC the way he'd been before!

** In "The Bicentennial Man", [[AdaptationDecay which was made into a movie]], Andrew (later known as Andrew Martin) is owned by the Martin family. Most other robots are leased and recycled after a number of years. After Andrew's "individuality" annoys the CEO of U.S. Robotics, the company buys back all old robots (the Martins refuse to sell) and destroys them. The company even later begins to reduce the intelligence of the robots, with all higher functions being done by central computers in communication with the robots. Sort of like [=PCs=] today, where you can buy netbooks and/or browser OS.

* ''Pluto Nash''. The titular character's bodyguard robot can't run very fast and his speech is very noticeable RoboSpeak. But Pluto keeps him around for sentimental purposes.

* The Robot from ''MeetTheRobinsons'' is the lowest tech thing the family has, apparently built when Lewis was just a kid. His son inherits it.

* While it isn't touched on much in the games, the ''MegaMan'' series can be seen as an example. In the Classic and X series the heroes have to defeat newer and newer models of robots, knowing that they themselves stay the same.

Alternatively, it could be used to establish characters' PerpetualPoverty, alongside their [[UsedFuture battered spaceship]] and [[TheAllegedCar antique internal-combustion car]]. After all, whatever the technology level, you can assume a state-of-the-art robotic assistant would be an expensive investment, so an older model might be all their budget allows.

Alternatively, it could be used to establish characters' PerpetualPoverty, alongside their [[UsedFuture battered spaceship]] and [[TheAllegedACar antique internal-combustion car]]. After all, whatever the technology level, you can assume a state-of-the-art robotic assistant would be an expensive investment, so an older model might be all their budget allows.

On a more cynical level, this can be down to SpecialEffects budget concerns. Animating your RobotBuddy takes a lot of effort, but it's worth it to flesh out ([[FantasticSlurs pardon the expression]]) a main character - but why put the same work into background characters when RidiculouslyHumanRoots require just [[RubberForeheadAliens just a bit of makeup]]?

It can be done for pratical reasons or just to save money. If it's not, it's always a trait of good characters or, when villains do it, a PetTheDog kind of trait.

* ''{{Anachronox}}''
* ''Pluto Nash''. The titular character's bodyguard robot can't run very fast and his speech is very noticeable RoboSpeak. But Pluto keeps him around for sentimental purposes.

* Helper from ''TheVentureBrothers'' is certainly of the money-saving variety. Dr Venture prefers to repair or reuse his father's old tech than invent his own.
** Still not the straightest example though, since Helper seems to be the only robot in that universe.
* In ''BladeRunner'', the character played by William Sanderson has a house full of "misfit toys", so to speak.
* C-3PO and R2-D2 from ''StarWars''. Especially C-3PO in the prequels.
** Other than C-3PO and R2-D2, there are several examples in the Star Wars universe. One I know of is Wee-Gee, the Katarn family droid in ''JediKnight''.
* More or less the premise of ''TheBraveLittleToaster''. More or less.
* Happens on an episode of ''TheJetsons'', when Rosie is apparently outclassed by a later model of robot.
* IsaacAsimov likes this trope.
** From ''Foundation'': R. Daneel Olviaw, even before [[spoiler:he aged 20,000 years]]
** In "The Bicentennial Man", [[AdaptationDecay which was made into a movie]], Andrew (later known as Andrew Martin) is owned by the Martin family. Most other robots are leased and recycled after a number of years. After Andrew's "individuality" annoys the CEO of U.S. Robotics, the company buys back all old robots (the Martins refuse to sell) and destroys them. The company even later begins to reduce the intelligence of the robots, with all higher functions being done by central computers in communication with the robots. Sort of like [=PCs=] today, where you can buy netbooks and/or browser OS.
** In short story ''Light Verse'', a wealthy socialite and artist refuses to fix her old robot butler, finding his eccentricities charming, [[spoiler:but it turns out that it was the malfunctioning robots who were creating her art]].

* The Robot from ''MeetTheRobinsons'' is the lowest tech thing the family has, apparently built when Lewis was just a kid. His son inherits it.
* The last part of the ''RedDwarf'' episode ''The Last Day'' centres on this.
* In ''I, Robot'', only the newer models of robot begin attacking humans. The older models actually fight against the new models briefly due to their unupdated programming.
* Another that those of you who have no shame might remember is the show ''Cubix: Robots for Everyone'' that was on the WB network back in '98-'99ish. the main robot, Cubix was a pile of junk that the main human started tinkering with.
* Bender of ''{{Futurama}}'' is obsolete as of the debut of Robot 1-X in "Obsoletely Fabulous." The episode went through a complicated process of getting Bender and the older robots to accept the 1-X, and then the 1-X inexplicably disappeared and hasn't been seen since.
** 1-X reappears in the movies, but considering it got ''sliced in half'', it seems unlikely that it'll appear in the new season.
* [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Bollux Bollux]] in the ''StarWars'' ''Han Solo Adventures" trilogy by Brian Daley.

* While it isn't touched on much in the games, the MegaMan series can be seen as an example. In the Classic and X series the heroes have to defeat newer and newer models of robots, knowing that they themselves stay the same.
* ''{{Chobits}}'': Hiroyasu Ueda bought a persocom when he opened his bakery. He fell in love with her, but she then gradually lost her all of her memories. He refused to have her repaired in fear that the persocom would completely lose her memories, much less replacing her.
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