Centurion droid

The Centurion Droids are non-sentient drones from the cartoon portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

We make Sentinel units look smart.

The Centurion droids are an automated defense guarding the Vector Sigma supercomputer. Though possessing no weapons, Centurions are trained in hand-to-hand combat to stop all intruders. They also possess very strong armor that protects them from attacks, making them even more dangerous. They tend to be encountered in large numbers.

They must be either evaded or tricked in order for one to approach Vector Sigma. Fortunately, that's not hard.

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Some toasters just killed some Colonials, oops wrong universe.

The Centurion Droids were first encountered deep within planet Cybertron, guarding the chamber of Vector Sigma from both Autobots and Decepticons. Megatron was able to bypass them by using the Key to Vector Sigma to override their defenses, but Optimus Prime and his Autobots were not so lucky. Unable to defeat the Centurions in combat, the Autobots kept them busy with a slew of ancient worker droids. The worker droids stumbled off the edge of a chasm, leading the Centurions to follow like lemmings. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1

After Vector Sigma and Alpha Trion gave life to the new Aerialbots, the Autobots attempted to return to Omega Supreme, but the way was blocked by dozens of Centurion droids. The Aerialbots used their flight capabilities to good effect, routing the Centurions and enabling the Autobots to escape. As Omega Supreme headed for Earth, the Centurion droids angrily shook their fists at the retreating Autobots. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

The Headmasters cartoon

The Centurion Droids were encountered by Optimus Prime again in the year 2011 when Prime was on another mission to reach Vector Sigma. However, this time around, the Centurions did not appear to be nearly as threatening, as Prime simply plowed through them like an American football player. The Mystery of Planet Master

Wings Universe

Wings Universe is based on the Generation 1 cartoon, but deviates from it in cosmetic ways and continuity points.

"Doc" created the Centurion droids as a replacement for the Guardian robots. While he and his assistant Centrifuge were demonstrating them to Bishop on Around Cybertron, they went rogue and attacked Centrifuge. "Doc" promised they'd work the bugs out before the Centurions started being sold. Around Cybertron #12

2005 IDW continuity

BY YOUR COMMAND

Greatly upgraded Centurion Droids were employed by Bludgeon and his crew to prevent disruption of their resurrection of Thunderwing and their study of the Pretender graft process. Stormbringer #2 A squad of these droids managed to corner the Technobots Nosecone and Afterburner before being destroyed by the arriving Wreckers. Stormbringer #3

After the discovery that Thunderwing expended ultra energon more quickly the harder he was hit, Optimus Prime had Dogfight reprogram the remaining Centurions to attack the gigantic Decepticon. Attacking en masse, the Centurions managed to cause a massive spike in Thunderwing's internal catalytic flux, but they were quickly destroyed. Stormbringer #4

Swindle's Spiel

Swindle, Swindle and Swindle had Centurions among their drones for sale. Swindle's Spiel, 2015/10/05

Notes

• The upgraded droids bear a more than passing resemblance to Vehicon Tank Drones, not to mention the Cylon Centurions of Battlestar Galactica.
• The IDW version of the Centurion droid serves as the inspiration for the robot mode of War for Cybertron: Siege Brunt, which was then redecoed and released as a Centurion droid a year later as a Hasbro Pulse exclusive.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Centurion droid (センチュリオン・ドロイド Senchurion doroido)