Nanite

Tiny traffic cones of DOOM!

Nanites, also called Nanobots, are very tiny robots that can be programmed to do work at molecular levels. They are usually very simple and can only be used for one task at a time.

Fiction

Beast Wars

Nanites, tiny machine clusters far smaller than a cell, were the fundamental component of a protoform. It was also where mutations, such as Transmetalization, arose.

Animated cartoon

Sumdac Systems developed a form of nanite that could dissolve organic waste, but after a mutation created by the AllSpark Key, they began to break down any and all matter they came in contact with. They were stopped by Wreck-Gar, who was seemingly destroyed in the process (though he did survive). Garbage In, Garbage Out

Rescue Bots cartoon

Doc Greene had a container of nanites in his possession, which were planted by Doctor Morocco. The Other Doctor Cody Burns stole these nanites to enhance his go-kart, Rolling Thunder. After the go-kart's brakes proved to be faulty, Rolling Thunder was diverted into Griffin Rock's junkyard, where the nanites then left the go-kart on their own power and entered the intake of the Scrapmaster, making it unable to distinguish between junk and being. The out-of-control garbage disposal was stopped when Boulder tore off the machine's fuel pipe, causing the nanites to enter the Autobot via his exhaust pipe, taking control of his body. Boulder managed to get enough control of himself to drive the nanites into the power plant at Cody's suggestion, noting that the Nanites kept getting attracted to more powerful machines. The nanites then entered the plant's generators, eventually getting overwhelmed by the raw power, as planned. Cody on Patrol

Doctor Morocco used more nanites to control a toy rocket and Doc Greene's solar car, as a way of manipulating the mayor into standing down the Rescue Bots in favor of his MorBot and appointing him lead scientist. The Other Doctor Although the team showed the canister extracted from the wreckage of the solar car, the mayor still didn't believe them, stating it wasn't enough proof.

Ask Vector Prime

Swindle, Swindle and Swindle offered programmable nanobots for sale. Ask Vector Prime