DRONES

The laser drones were part of the security system at STRADA, the Strategic Research and Development Administration. There were four of the mobile robotic devices that bore a strong resemblance to R2-D2. They had been designed by Dr. Jill Ludlum as part of her project to create Sandi, a fifth-generation computer on the verge of true artificial intelligence. As such, the drones could be controlled by Dr. Ludlum's voice commands as well as by Sandi herself.

The drones patrolled the STRADA facility with the responsibility of eliminating any outside threat. They used heat seekers to zero in on body temperature and were armed with 30,000 watts of laser, although they didn't have particularly good aim.

When Sandi mistook a simulation drill for a genuine security threat, she used the drones to pursue Dr. Ludlum and MacGyver and to prevent them from trying to override her programming. However, MacGyver was able to disable the drones by twisting paper around a magnet and setting it on fire, then throwing it to the attach to the metal surface of the drones. The heat seekers then zeroed in on the flames and three of the drones fired and destroyed each other. The fourth was then recalled by Sandi as she began to withdraw oxygen from the facility.

Cross Reference: Jill Ludlum, Sandi, STRADA

Episode Reference: The Human Factor