As a robot, however, there is a real gulf between Epsilon and the human "experience." This means he will always lack the full emotional richness that humans have--an emotional 'downtone'--and though it may often aid him, it also separates him.
It's not clear if Epsilon can love, as humans love (though he may receive it... and though he cares, and is caring--Epsilon loves his children, but the nearness of this to human love is precarious and brought under serious scrutiny by the rest of the world.) He certainly does not rage, as humans rage (or, really, at all.) He does not grieve, as humans do (though he may experience loss.) His pain is not human pain. He understands human emotions, human pains, human joys--to a point, that is; he knows of them, he knows when they happen and understands them, in an objective way. This is not an issue--but for Epsilon, his "heart" is the heart of a robot, and though he pains for others, he cannot actually grieve for them as intensely as he may perhaps wish to.
This is not to say he does not feel. Epsilon, like many robots in his canon, possesses a striking degree of feeling that is both subtle and nebulous. There is an element of sadness and pain to Epsilon, concealed under his gentle exterior. But it is hidden, and he keeps it private--and even this he does not "feel" with the same quality as humans, even as his understanding of those feelings may approach human levels in intensity.
Interestingly, Epsilon can be much more direct and frank about his robotic nature than many of the other robots in canon, even those far less advanced. Even older models often choose to go through various motions of human life--for example, they may drink tea or eat human food to simulate the human experience and thus understand it better. Epsilon does not. Perhaps it is because of his programming or perhaps it is because of his children, but he has fulfilled his existence in a way that does not require a fascimile of humanity. He does not drink tea, does not eat human food, does not attempt to possess or understand feelings that he does not--he is content with what he has. Compared to certain other robots--Gesicht, Atom--Epsilon is relatively streamlined. Efficient in what his speciality is, but with some of the other aspects stripped down a bit; he definitely has an individuality and he certainly has personality, but it's not as obviously intense--as necessarily human--as the two mentioned.
Because of this, however, he can sometimes be a little too blunt, a little too "robot."
He does, however, have a dry, almost unexpected sense of humour--sometimes he can be almost sassy, in an understated way.
It'll sneak up on you.
Background: Epsilon was created by Dr. Ronald Newton-Howard, and the only one of the "seven most powerful robots in the world" to be created in Australia. These seven robots are the only seven robots known (at the beginning of canon) to function as weapons of mass destruction--the creation of which is now illegal. Which tells you something about Epsilon right from the start. He is also the only robot in the world to run on a photon reactor, drawing his energy--and power--from sunlight. While his AI is not always as humanlike as some of his fellow six, his unique technology is more than enough to set him apart. Programmed to be compassionate, peaceful, and caring, he is strictly nonviolent, and he is often distant to his fellow advanced robots and the world at large. This may be understandable, as he is often looked down on for refusing conscription in the 39th Central Asian Conflict, a decision made all the more remarkable for his immense power--a power so great, in fact, that he is regularly referred to as the strongest robot in the world.
He is well aware of what his capabilities are, but actively refuses to use them.
Despite his pacifism, however, he was commissioned by the U. N. military for a cleanup operation at the end of the 39th Central Asian Conflict.
While investigating the roboticist Goji before the war, the 'Bora Investigation Squad' found thousands of high-level robots hidden deep beneath an old mosque, all with their AIs removed. It was, from a robot perspective, a literal sea of corpses. A few weeks later, the war began.
Re: [CANON] Epsilon || Pluto || No Reserve
It's not clear if Epsilon can love, as humans love (though he may receive it... and though he cares, and is caring--Epsilon loves his children, but the nearness of this to human love is precarious and brought under serious scrutiny by the rest of the world.) He certainly does not rage, as humans rage (or, really, at all.) He does not grieve, as humans do (though he may experience loss.) His pain is not human pain. He understands human emotions, human pains, human joys--to a point, that is; he knows of them, he knows when they happen and understands them, in an objective way. This is not an issue--but for Epsilon, his "heart" is the heart of a robot, and though he pains for others, he cannot actually grieve for them as intensely as he may perhaps wish to.
This is not to say he does not feel. Epsilon, like many robots in his canon, possesses a striking degree of feeling that is both subtle and nebulous. There is an element of sadness and pain to Epsilon, concealed under his gentle exterior. But it is hidden, and he keeps it private--and even this he does not "feel" with the same quality as humans, even as his understanding of those feelings may approach human levels in intensity.
Interestingly, Epsilon can be much more direct and frank about his robotic nature than many of the other robots in canon, even those far less advanced. Even older models often choose to go through various motions of human life--for example, they may drink tea or eat human food to simulate the human experience and thus understand it better. Epsilon does not. Perhaps it is because of his programming or perhaps it is because of his children, but he has fulfilled his existence in a way that does not require a fascimile of humanity. He does not drink tea, does not eat human food, does not attempt to possess or understand feelings that he does not--he is content with what he has. Compared to certain other robots--Gesicht, Atom--Epsilon is relatively streamlined. Efficient in what his speciality is, but with some of the other aspects stripped down a bit; he definitely has an individuality and he certainly has personality, but it's not as obviously intense--as necessarily human--as the two mentioned.
Because of this, however, he can sometimes be a little too blunt, a little too "robot."
He does, however, have a dry, almost unexpected sense of humour--sometimes he can be almost sassy, in an understated way.
It'll sneak up on you.
Background: Epsilon was created by Dr. Ronald Newton-Howard, and the only one of the "seven most powerful robots in the world" to be created in Australia. These seven robots are the only seven robots known (at the beginning of canon) to function as weapons of mass destruction--the creation of which is now illegal. Which tells you something about Epsilon right from the start. He is also the only robot in the world to run on a photon reactor, drawing his energy--and power--from sunlight. While his AI is not always as humanlike as some of his fellow six, his unique technology is more than enough to set him apart. Programmed to be compassionate, peaceful, and caring, he is strictly nonviolent, and he is often distant to his fellow advanced robots and the world at large. This may be understandable, as he is often looked down on for refusing conscription in the 39th Central Asian Conflict, a decision made all the more remarkable for his immense power--a power so great, in fact, that he is regularly referred to as the strongest robot in the world.
He is well aware of what his capabilities are, but actively refuses to use them.
Despite his pacifism, however, he was commissioned by the U. N. military for a cleanup operation at the end of the 39th Central Asian Conflict.
While investigating the roboticist Goji before the war, the 'Bora Investigation Squad' found thousands of high-level robots hidden deep beneath an old mosque, all with their AIs removed. It was, from a robot perspective, a literal sea of corpses. A few weeks later, the war began.