The Androids are mechanical beings that resemble people and cyborg humans. Most of the ones seen in the series were created by the scientist Dr. Gero, and later his grandson Hedo. Most of the androids are said to have unlimited energy and immortality. Due to their inorganic nature, androids, or at least the ones created by Dr. Gero, except for Cell, also have no detectable life force unlike Saiyans, Humans, and other races, so they cannot be directly tracked using Scouters or the Ki Search Technique. The only one that can be sensed via Ki Search Technique is Gero's ultimate creation, Cell, whose body is organic.
The Androids of the Red Ribbon Army were the inventions of Dr. Gero, in which were intended to assist the original plans of the Red Ribbon Army to dominate the world.[2][3] Dr. Gero built Androids because mechs can be captured and used by the enemy while Androids can think for themselves. Dr. Gero's process of turning a human into an android completely halts their aging, thus making the cyborg immune to at least natural death or illness. Gero eventually decided to turn himself into No. 20 in order to become immortal. Red Ribbon Androids 13 through to 21 all wear loop earrings. After the army's defeat at the hands of Son Gokū, Gero began to study the Saiyan, his friends, and and his enemies in order to create more powerful Androids for the sole purpose of killing Gokū. In the anime, a second scientist—Doctor Flappe—was said to have worked on No. 8 alongside Gero.[4]
Not all of the Androids were made from humans. For example, both No. 16 and No. 19 were entirely mechanical and the Android Cell was an amalgamation of a myriad of species. In fact, the entirety of the Androids spanning numbers 1 to 12 were entirely mechanical. This was done by Gero in order to give him full control over the Android and its actions,[5]
but Gero could not control their personalities, so he destroyed them.
Android Models[]
In all, Doctor Gero invented three distinct models for his Androids:
Energy Absorption Model androids.
The first distinct model to appear in the series was the Energy Absorption Model (エネルギー吸収式, Enerugī Kyūshū Shiki).[6][7] These Androids required the ki energy from organic sources in order to increase their power. They accomplished this through small circular nodules on the palms of their hands.[8] Additionally, this model of Android could not be detected by those capable of sensing ki.[9] Both Androids shown from this model had completely synthetic bodies with only a human brain—effectively making them immortal.[1] While this model initially proved formidable, its flaws were glaring. If this model was unable to absorb energy from an organic source, it could run out of power sufficient enough to fight powerful enemies. Additionally, if its palms were ripped off it would no longer be capable of absorbing energy[10] and they can be detected indirectly due to the depleting ki of the victim. Androids No. 19 and No. 20 were examples of this model.
Eternal Model Type androids.
Called the Eternal Model Type (永久式タイプ, Eikyū Shiki Taipu; Viz "Infinite Energy Model/Infinite Model"),[6][7] the second model was far more efficient, wielding infinite energy.[3] This type was said to be more difficult to control. This second model was composed mostly of a human base which Gero then enhanced with cybernetic technology. This meant that they no longer required food for sustenance, though they still required hydration. As a model primarily consisting of a human base, the infinite-energy model Androids could also increase their strength even further by training.[11] Even without training, this model is extraordinarily powerful. No. 18 was easily able to overwhelm Super SaiyanVegeta, while No. 17 was initially able to defeat Piccolo, Tenshinhan, and the futuristic Super Saiyan Trunks all on his own. Androids No. 16, No. 17, and No. 18 were examples of this model.
The third and final model consisted of Cell, Cell Junior, and No. 21. Consisting almost entirely of organic matter, Cell was an Android constructed from the cells of Earth's greatest warriors, hence his name. These cells allowed him to wield the traits of of the fighters that make up his design. Despite these obvious advantages, Cell's model was created incomplete, requiring him to absorb No. 17 and No. 18 in order to obtain this completion.[12] These androids can be tracked by ki sense, though Cell proves, they in turn can also learn to sense other's ki as well as mask their own ki signature to elude pursuit, just as organics can. In the case of Cell and all bio-androids based on him, their organic ki is derived from the cells of powerful Saiyans, a Nameccian and mutant members of Freeza's race.
Later on, in Dragon Ball Super, Hedo invented five individual series for his Androids:
Alpha Series androids.
The first known series to be revealed was known as the Alpha Series (アルファシリーズ, Arufa Shirīzu).[13] These androids were created using the corpses of Human-type Earthlings as a base, which often caused others to believe they were either "obake" (オバケ; Viz "Ghost/Ghoulie") or "zombies" (ゾンビ, Zonbi).[14][13] While they are outfitted with cybernetic enhancements, their primary objective was to operate convivence stores to produce research funds for Hedo. However, due to their decaying brains, these androids have known issues with their memory and intelligence.[15] The most notable among the Alpha Series was Alpha No. 12 who could endure restrained strikes from the likes of Trunks, requiring the Saiyan-half to briefly go all out in order to defeat him.
Beta No. 1, an example of the Beta Series androids.
Referred to as the Beta Series (ベータシリーズ, Bēta Shirīzu), the second series are more advanced than the Alpha Series. While these androids are also created using the corpses of Human-type Earthlings as a base, the Beta Series were identical to normal humans, with the only distinction being a piece of patchwork skin. They were created with the intention of surveilling and retrieving Gero's data disk from Great Saiyaman X-1. Beta No. 1, who was considered Hedo's masterwork at the time, was outfitted with cybernetic enhancements which enabled him to briefly keep pace with Trunks on several occasions, and displayed genius level of intelligence. Additionally, the Beta Series is also comprised of sentient robots such as Beta No. 2 and No. 8, with the former being a Battle Jacket Android.
Dinodroid No. 1, the only unnamed third series android.
The third series consisted solely of Dinodroid No. 1. In a manner similar to its predecessors, this android was constructed from the corpse of a dinosaur. Like the Alpha Series, it was created with the intention of retrieving Gero's data disk from Great Saiyaman X-1 and X-2. As a result, it was optimized specifically for power in order to contend with the strength of the two Saiyan-half.[16] Though it was successfully able to contend with the two Saiyan-half and Kulilin, and even expel powerful energy beams from its mouth, its lack of intelligence made it impossible to control.
Gamma Series androids.
Through the funding of the Red Pharmaceuticals, Hedo developed a fourth series called the Gamma Series (ガンマシリーズ, Ganma Shirīzu). These androids are purely mechanical and based on superheroes, specifically Great Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 in the manga. They were created with the purpose of defeating Dragon Team, with Gamma No. 1 and Gamma No. 2 being able to fight on par with Son Gohan and Piccolo in their Ultimate Mode and Potential Released states. The Gamma Series runs entirely on batteries which lose power over time. However, as long as there is power within their battery, they are capable of fighting at full strength.[17] Additionally, they are armed with a unique firearm capable of releasing energy bullets.
Abilities[]
Eternal Model Type androids have an infinity energy source and never tire.[18]
Similar cases[]
Taopaipai, the infamous assassin, spent all of the money he'd earned to be rebuilt as a cyborg after his defeat at the hands of Son Gokū.
Freeza's cybernetic enhancements.
After his defeat by Gokū on Namek, Freeza was rebuilt as a cyborg.[19] According to the tyrant himself, these cyborg enhancements increased his power even further. He remained a cyborg after his death and even into his revival, until all of his organic body was regenerated by the regeneration technology of the Galactic Freeza Army.[20]
In Other Timelines[]
Movies[]
Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Battle!! The Three Great Super Saiyans[]
Gero's computer overlooking No. 13, No. 14 and No. 15.
The tenth movie of the Dragon Ball series introduced three new Androids created by Gero; No. 13, No. 14, and No. 15, purely synthetic models finished by Gero's subterranean computer. Following the same pattern as all Androids created by Gero after the destruction of the Red Ribbon Army, No.'s 13 through 15 were created with one single purpose — killing the Saiyan Son Gokū to fulfill Gero's need for revenge. Despite their considerable powers, all three Androids met their end at the hands of the Dragon Team, leaving Gero's vendetta unfulfilled by the three new units.[21]
In Other Media[]
Video Games[]
Trivia[]
In Dragon Ball FighterZ, fully mechanical Androids are called "mecha-type" (メカタイプ, Meka Taipu), while cyborgs like No. 17 and 18 are referred to as "modified humans".
7th Universe
