History Main / RemoteBody

In ''ComicBook/AstroCity'', the Death-Walker robots are controlled by human operators from a remote location.

* ''ComicBook/IronMan'': Tony can remote-control his suits at a distance, even using a remote-controlled armor while he is crippled. While off in space during his stint with the ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy, he an still perform heroics on Earth by way of another remote-controlled armor.
* ''ComicBook/Marvel2099'': Ethan Shields, who us sort of the 2099 equivalent of Iron Man under the name Galahad, operates entirely like this, because he suffers immunodeficiency and [[BubbleBoy can't leave his protective force field]].

* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Multiple Man was presumed this before Jamie Madrox got any CharacterDevelopment. DependingOnTheWriter and plot, his dupes may function as Remote Bodies or he may have to explain why any of them may operate independent of his will.

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[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/remote_body.png]]]]

''(Iron Man's visor opens to reveal an empty helmet, as the camera cuts to Tony controlling his armor from the other side of the world)''\\

Compare and Contrast: ActuallyADoombot, AstralProjection, BodySurf, DecoyGetaway, DemonicPossession, EnemyWithout, FreakyFridayFlip, HiveDrone, LittleGreenManInACan, MobileSuitHuman, MyselfMyAvatar, PeoplePuppets, PoweredArmor, RobotMe, SelfDuplication, and SoulJar. PuppetFighter is when this becomes a gameplay mechanic.

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' GuileHero and GadgeteerGenius Urahara reveals he has a Gigai (an artificial body that spiritual beings can use to interact with the real world) that he can control remotely.

* The Meta-Coolers in the sixth ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' movie. They're all extensions of the planet-sized spaceship that saved what was left of Cooler's body (a little less than half his head).
* ''Manga/GhostInTheShell'': In GITS 1.5 and 2 Motoko Aramaki (one of the Major/Puppet Master hybrid's copies) almost exclusively operates through remote bodies stashed all over the planet, while her real body is safe in a private submarine. She sometimes hijacks other people's bodies too.
* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'': Major Kusanagi (and presumably other characters) can remotely control robot bodies. At the end of the first season she uses this ability to avoid being killed.

* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'':
** After the MadScientist Yatsubiyashi PlayingWithSyringes transforms Tiol into a TragicMonster, who functions as a MookMaker by [[MetalMuncher ingesting metal]] which gets re-assembled by {{Nanomachines}} into new monsters, the monsters Tiol creates eventually take the form of [[MesACrowd an army of]] remote versions of himself with ShapeshifterWeapon limbs that could be guns instead of arms or be MultiArmedAndDangerous. Them functioning like this allows Tiol to catch a glimpse of Sheryl which partially restores his consciousness, as well as [[spoiler:one of them serving as the platform for Tsubaki [[ResurrectTheVillain resurrecting Tiol]] after Akira kills Tiol's original body]].
** Chloe's NinjaMaid servent Pamela is a RobotMaster who specializes in controlling several of these at once. They're each a RobotMaid which [[MesACrowd look like her]] and their faces eerily all match her current expression. Pamela's ability to control them all is suggested to be PowerBornOfMadness by her coworkers.
* In ''Manga/{{Toriko}}'', the GT Robos are robotic remote bodies people use to do business in places too dangerous for them. They are first seen being used as weapons by the antagonistic Gourmet Corp but they also have non-martial applications. One chef uses a GT Robo to run her restaurant since it's located in the Black Lake, a place that is too dangerous for regular humans.

* In early ''ComicBook/AlphaFlight'', {{Gadgeteer|Genius}} GeniusCripple Roger Bochs had a robot called Box that he controlled with a neural interface helmet.
* ComicBook/IronMan could remote control his suits at a distance, even used a remote-controlled armor while he was crippled. While off in space during his stint with the ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy, he could still perform heroics on Earth by way of another remote-controlled armor.
* [=NoMan=] of the ''Comicbook/THUNDERAgents'' can [[BrainUploading transfer]] his consciousness into and out of several (disposable, if necessary) android bodies because of a EmergencyTransformation.
* ''Comicbook/TheSurrogates'': Portrays a society where practically everyone save for a small religious group uses remotely controlled androids called "surrogates". As a result murder is practically unknown.

** Similarly, in ''ComicBook/StarWarsMarvel1977'', The Wheel's MasterComputer (named [[https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Master-Com Master-Com]]) is able to use multiple robot bodies as avatars and switch between them at need, such as when the Master-Com deliberately provokes some stormtroopers into destroying his current robot body (the computer is allowed to resist violence) instead of simply ordering the computer to shut down (the computer would have had to obey the order). He simply switches to a new robot body.
* In ''ComicBook/{{PS238}}'' when Tyler was infected with an alien virus and put in stasis Victor von Fogg cloned him and replaced most of the clone's brain with a remote control device linked to Tyler's virtual interface in order to cover this up. However, unknown to von Fogg, a [[TemporalDuplication temporal duplicate]] of Tyler was simultaneously conscious in the Castle Beyond Space and Time. The resultant feedback loop meant the clone developed independent consciousness, while a meddling angel and demon gave him superpowers, now he's known as "Toby".

* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Multiple Man was presumed this before Jamie Madrox got any CharacterDevelopment. DependingOnTheWriter and plot, his dupes may function as Remote Bodies or he may have to explain why any of them may operate independent of his will.
* Ethan Shields, a ''ComicBook/Marvel2099'' scientist who was sort of the 2099 equivalent of Iron Man under the name Galahad, operated entirely like this, because he suffered immunodeficiency and [[BubbleBoy couldn't leave his protective force field]].
* Robot from ''Comicbook/{{Invincible}}'' was actually a genius whose deformities meant he couldn't live outside of a jar. He remotely operated a drone which became part of a superhero team. He eventually used the genetic material of one of his late teammates Rex Splode to clone himself a new body.
* The ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' villain called the Mad Thinker was able to operate out of prison in this way for years. One wonders if he ever wanted to taste some real food, though.

[[folder:Film]]

* In ''Literature/{{Incandescence}}'', Rakesh and Parantham use remote bodies that resemble jelly babies to explore hostile environments. These bodies can be as large or small as necessary, can adjust their senses to perceive different kinds of stimuli, and can use [[JetPack ion thrusters]] to get around.

* In the episode "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E8IRobotYouJane I, Robot, You, Jane]]" of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', a demon creates a mechanical robot self he operates via the internet. [[spoiler:Eventually he gets stuck in that body.]]
* An episode of ''Series/{{Crusade}}'' had [[ClarkesThirdLaw Galen]] generate a sort of remote hologram of himself to discover who had been kidnapping and vivisecting crewmembers who got seperated from the others while on the planet.
* This is the premise of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E5TheRebelFlesh The Rebel Flesh]]". At least, until a [[LightningCanDoAnything storm hits]] and what are supposed to be remote-operated bodies develop an independent consciousness...
* In ''Series/RobotCombatLeague'' contestants from many walks of life are given a chance to win a boxing match consisting of 8 plus foot tall {{Motion Capture Mecha}}s.
* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' episode "The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification", Sheldon decides to stay in his room for the rest of his life in order to live long enough to witness TheSingularity, so he rigs a "virtual presence device" to take his place on the outside world. It's basically a video screen on a mobile stand with one of his shirts draped on it. He insists that the others behave as if the device were him, which no one does.

[[folder:Tabletop RPG]]
* This is a central component of ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}: TabletopGame/TranshumanSpace''. People, especially [=AIs=], rent (rarely purchase) cybershells designed for their environment or the job they're doing at the moment.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' gives us the [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot Alchemicals]], whose bodies become too small for them as their [[PowerLevel Essence score]] increases and must make the leap to first [[GiantRobot Colossi]] and then [[GeniusLoci Metropoli/Patropoli]]. As there are times when they need to interact with the populace, however, they have access to Charms that allow them to produce a human-sized version of themselves.

* ''TabletopGame/HcSvntDracones'' has both cybernetic and biotech versions. The biological version is a bit more dangerous though as they're somewhat smart, and maybe a little vindictive.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''

** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', [[spoiler:The King of Red Lions is revealed to be a remote body for King Daphnes, allowing him to interact with Link as he stays down in sunken Hyrule.]]

* The ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' DLC ''Old World Blues'' has the ''player character'' become this trope for most of the DLC. The Courier's brain (along with heart and spine) are surgically removed and replaced with a remote receiver. The trouble is, the geniuses of the Think Tank then immediately lose track of said organs; the Courier's main motivation in the DLC's main questline is to locate and retrieve the missing pieces.
* This is the premise of ''VideoGame/CortexCommand'', where humans, being [[BrainInAJar Brains In Jars]], operate robotic or MeatPuppet bodies.
* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', [[spoiler:EDI gains control over a Cerberus-built robotic body. She's still physically located within the Normandy and any damage to the body will have no effect on her, but she can control it as long as it's within range of the Normandy's communications array, which can reach anywhere in the galaxy.]]
* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX'': Big spoilers here, you've been warned. [[spoiler:an early-game reveal is the fact that not only is the player character operating a robot body, so is ''everyone else in New Los Angeles''. The robot bodies, called "mimeosomes", were intended to be long-lasting vessels/puppets for the humans minds just in case the search for a new habitable planet took longer than a lifetime. They near-perfectly mimic all human bodily functions (including eating and sleeping), which explains how the player character never realized something was up. The actual minds are stored in the Lifehold, which is why BLADE is so focused on finding it.]]
* In ''Videogame/{{Evolve}}'', the robot addressed as Bucket is a remote control drone. His actual mind is stored within the ship.
* ''{{Videogame/Warframe}}'': [[spoiler: The titular Warframes themselves are actually remote bodies controlled by the player character (known as the Tenno or Operator) using the Somatic Link and a process known as Transference. The Tenno themselves are actually held in cryosleep and control the Warframes from within a dreamlike state known as "The Second Dream"; players can awaken from the Second Dream by completing the quest of the same name.]]
* ''VideoGame/IronHelix'': The player character never actually steps one foot onboard the ship that the game takes place on, instead they send a zoological probe that can be remote-piloted. The reasons being that a biological weapon was released onboard the ship, and the ship's automated security drone is in a "kill-on-sight" mood.
* ''VideoGame/RedAlert3'': Terror Drones were (and possibly still are) remote-piloted by controllers (one of which spent a liiiiittle too much time driving one as he was then caught attacking subway passengers with a cattle prod).

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Moire Dziva in ''Webcomic/UmlautHouse 2'' prefers to meet people using dragon like "marionettes".

* In ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', this is revealed to be the true nature of [[spoiler:Oasis and Kusari's supposed "immortality". They are actually artificially intelligent supercomputers that are controlling human clone bodies from a distance. Oasis can only control one at a time, but Kusari can control multiple at once.]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* Played with in ''WebAnimation/GenLock'' with Holons, the series' signature HumongousMecha. Rather than being piloted from an internal cockpit, Holons are operated via a [[BrainUploading cyberbrain]], letting the pilot effectively ''become'' the mech. However, this isn't ''remote'' control as such; while undergoing gen:LOCK, the pilot's consciousness is entirely contained within the cyberbrain, ''not'' their original body. While any damage to the chassis can be repaired, enough damage to the ''cyberbrain'' would mean the death of the pilot.
* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': The "communications android" being controlled by someone in [[http://whateleyacademy.net/index.php/original-timeline/352-loose-cannons-chapter-2 Loose Cannons Chapter 2]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]

* Nemesis Prime from ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' is a remote controlled robot created by the human villain group MECH.
** The Optimus Prime clone in ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' episode "A Prime Problem", which Megatron controls and speak through.

* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': In the episode "Ex Mach Tina", Tina is incapacitated by a sprained ankle and takes part in an experimental program where she continues to attend classes remotely via a robot. The robot gets accidentally put in the broom closet, where Jimmy Jr. is hiding, and the two end up bonding. So Tina decides to continue to see Jimmy through the robot because she's too awkward to meet him in person. Also, Gene and Louise play with the robot after hours and mess with the night janitor.
* ''WesternAnimation/LoveDeathAndRobots'': In "[[Recap/LoveDeathAndRobotsSonniesEdge Sonnie's Edge]]", bioengineered monsters are remotely piloted by humans with cranial devices in underground fights. [[spoiler:In Sonnie's case, her human body is the drone and her beast is her "real" body containing her brain.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': In the episode "Ex Mach Tina", Tina is incapacitated and takes part in an experimental program where she continues to attend classes remotely via a robot. The robot gets accidentally put in the broom closet, where Jimmy Jr. is hiding, and the two end up bonding. So Tina decides to continue to see Jimmy through the robot because she's too awkward to meet him in person. Also, Gene and Louise play with the robot after hours and mess with the night janitor.

* Creator/IsaacAsimov:
** "Literature/TheBicentennialMan": After Andrew requests that his robot body be upgraded to a more [[DeceptivelyHumanRobots human-like body]], US Robots starts to manufacture robots with their positronic brains separate from their robot bodies, similar to the DV series from "Catch That Rabbit". Sir considers this a sign of reactionary backtracking as they try to avoid getting more robots that want their bodies replaced.
** "Literature/CatchThatRabbit": The DV series model is of a central robot with six additional robots networked to function as subsidiary systems. While each "finger" is capable of independent thought, they are networked together under the central command, following Dave's orders.
* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', Oreg, who ''is'' [[PoweredByAForsakenChild castle Hurog]] is this, in a way. He can feel damage done to the castle, and see into every single room. The body with which the protagonist interacts seems to be made of flesh and blood, but is immortal unless killed by Oreg's owner (ownership is determined by a ring that is passed on in the Hurog family). It is mentioned that killing Oreg would also damage the castle, which is why previous owners had Oreg punished by someone else, [[ColdBloodedTorture in order to not kill him.]] Oreg's body can be away either from the castle or from his owner, but not from both. Being forced into it makes him extremely uncomfortable, longer distances cause him pain, maybe because it causes the remote control to not function properly anymore; it is never explained in detail.
* Creator/RobertHeinlein's ''Literature/{{Waldo}}'' is about the inventor of remote manipulation devices, mostly hands and arms of various sizes but Waldo also uses complete bodies some times. It's become a real life term for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_manipulator remotes]] too.
* ''Literature/NewKashubiaSeries'': The hero spends most of the second book as the controller for a telepresence human-ish robot.
* Aristide, the protagonist of ''Literature/ImpliedSpaces'', makes use of this trope just like every other being in his verse.
* The title character of ''[[Literature/TheShipWho The Ship Who Searched]]'' puts a lot of money into building herself a remote body because she's a spaceship and wants to have legs.
* This is the entire premise of David Brin's ''Literature/KilnPeople''. One can make duplicate bodies out of a special clay, and send them off to do things.

* In early ''ComicBook/AlphaFlight'' Handicapped GadgeteerGenius Roger Bochs had a robot called Box that he controlled with a neural interface helmet.

* In ''ComicBook/DarkEmpire'', Luke Skywalker could ''create'' a remote body and even use the Force with it, though apparently, it could only go so far from him. This power is never used again by anyone, and his sister refers to it as a Sith trick.
** Similarly, in [[ComicBook/StarWarsMarvel1977 Marvel's Star Wars comics]], The Wheel's MasterComputer (named [[https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Master-Com Master-Com]]) is able to use multiple robot bodies as avatars and switch between them at need, such as when the Master-Com deliberately provokes some stormtroopers into destroying his current robot body (the computer is allowed to resist violence) instead of simply ordering the computer to shut down (the computer would have had to obey the order). He simply switches to a new robot body.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Byrna Brilyant, the Snowman, can remotely pilot her "Snowman" PoweredArmor and the several dozen identical robots/extra "Blue Snowmen" suits she's created.

* [[ComicBook/XMen Multiple Man]] was presumed this before Jamie Madrox got any CharacterDevelopment. DependingOnTheWriter and plot, his dupes may function as Remote Bodies or he may have to explain why any of them may operate independent of his will.
* Ethan Shields, a Comicbook/{{Marvel 2099}} scientist who was sort of the 2099 equivalent of Iron Man under the name Galahad, operated entirely like this, because he suffered immunodeficiency and [[BubbleBoy couldn't leave his protective force field]].

* The ComicBook/FantasticFour villain called the Mad Thinker was able to operate out of prison in this way for years. One wonders if he ever wanted to taste some real food, though.

* Literature/NewKashubiaSeries: The hero spends most of the second book as the controller for a telepresence human-ish robot.

* The title character of ''Literature/TheShipWhoSearched'' puts a lot of money into building herself a remote body because she's a space ship and wants to have legs.

* [[Literature/TheCulture Culture Minds]] control avatar bodies to interact with the people they watch over.
* In the [[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Dresden Files]] demons use those to manifest in the regular world. Sufficiently strong beings also can make and use those if they want, as [[spoiler:the Summer Lady Aurora]] demonstrated.
* In ''Literature/AncillaryJustice'', Radch's [=AIs=] have hundred, is not thousands of "corpse soldiers", which are basically lobotomized humans that [=AIs=] can hop in and control - usually, they do so with many at once.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* In the episode "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E8IRobotYouJane I, Robot, You, Jane]]" of ''Series/{{Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}'', a demon creates a mechanical robot self he operates via the internet. [[spoiler:Eventually he gets stuck in that body.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/LoveDeathAndRobots'': In "Sonnie's Edge" bioengineered monsters are remotely piloted by humans with cranial devices in underground fights. [[spoiler: In Sonnie's case, her human body is the drone and her beast is her "real" body containing her brain.]]

** Similarly, in an "alternate timeline" story, Cloud City's City Central Computer is able to use multiple robot bodies as avatars and switch between them at need, such as when the computer deliberately provokes some stormtroopers into destroying its current robot body (the computer is allowed to resist violence) instead of simply ordering the computer to shut itself down (the computer would have had to obey the order). The computer simply switches to a new robot body.

** Chloe's NinjaMaid servent Pamela is a RobotMaster who specializes in controlling several of these at once. They're each a RobotMaid which [[MesACrowd look like her]] and their faces [[UncannyValley eerily all match]] her current expression. Pamela's ability to control them all is suggested to be PowerBornOfMadness by her coworkers.

** By the time of ''Film/AvatarTheWayOfWater'', only Norm is seen using an Avatar. Jake's mind has been transferred permanently into his Avatar body by Eywa making him a Na'vi, Dr. Grace Augustine has passed and the Recombinants (including Colonel Quaritch) are autonomous Avatar clones of dead marines.

** By the time of ''Film/AvatarTheWayOfWater'', only Norm is seen using an Avatar. Jake's mind has been transferred permanently into his Avatar body by Eywa making him a Na'vi, Dr. Grace Augustine has passed and the Recombinants (including Colonel Quaritch) are autonomous Avatar clones.

* ''Film/{{Avatar}}'': The hero spends most of the movie as the controller of a synthetic alien.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'':
** After the MadScientist Yatsubiyashi PlayingWithSyringes transforms Tiol into a TragicMonster, who functions as a MookMaker by [[MetalMuncher ingesting metal]] which gets re-assembled by {{Nanomachines}} into new monsters, the monsters Tiol creates eventually take the form of [[MesACrowd an army of]] remote versions of himself with ShapeshifterWeapon limbs that could be guns instead of arms or be MultiArmedAndDangerous. Them functioning like this allows Tiol to catch a glimpse of Sheryl which partially restores his consciousness, as well as [[spoiler: one of them serving as the platform for Tsubaki [[ResurrectTheVillain resurrecting Tiol]] after Akira kills Tiol's original body.]]
** Chloe’s NinjaMaid servent Pamela is a RobotMaster who specializes in controlling several of these at once. They’re each a RobotMaid which [[MesACrowd look like her]] and their faces [[UncannyValley eerily all match]] her current expression. Pamela’s ability to control them all is suggested to be PowerBornOfMadness by her coworkers.