History Main / MicrobotSwarm

* ''Film/Ben10AlienSwarm'': TheSwarm are a species of [[MechanicalInsects Mechanical Insect]] {{Nanomachines}} that can form constructs or [[PuppeteerParasite burrow under a person's skin]] to assimilate them into their HiveMind. Ben even [[PowerCopying gains]] a half-nanochip/half-human transformation called Nanomech.

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Related to {{Synchronization}}, SynchronizedSwarming and HeartIsAnAwesomePower. Compare TheWormThatWalks for organic beings and TheSwarm. See {{Nanomachines}} and GreyGoo for swarms of even smaller robots.

* In the episode "The Love Bug" of ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries'', Greek EvilGenius Mechanicles has invented a swarm of very small mechanical termites to destroy entire forests. The ultimate thing these termites can do is combining into a MiniMecha around Mechanicles.

* In the episode "The Love Bug" of ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries'', Greek EvilGenius Mechanicles has invented a swarm of very small mechanical bugs. The ultimate thing they can do is combining into a MiniMecha.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Played for laughs with the nanites in ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'', who regularly go on strike or rebel since they hate their jobs.
* In the ''Series/Supergirl2015'' episode "[[Recap/Supergirl2015S2E18AceReporter Ace Reporter]]", the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Villain of the Week]] gains control of nanobots that are originally intended for medical use and give an instant HealingFactor. However, the nanobots can also do the opposite and destroy a normal human body in an instant. The villain can also use them for mind-control and, in big enough numbers, can even asphyxiate a Kryptonian.
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* ''ComicBook/{{Transmetropolitan}}'': People can undergo BrainUploading into "foglets", clouds of flying micromachines, each the size of a fat cell, that preserve their original consciousness. Spider Jerusalem's friend Tico is a ProHumanTranshuman foglet who can [[ThePowerOfCreation manufacture items out of thin air]], and [[spoiler:Channon's boyfriend]] undergoes "downloading" into a foglet in Issue #7.

** ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel'' had the scraplets -- a mechanical parasite that transforms between a humanoid form and nuts and bolts. Enough of them together can transform into a giant humanoid form.

* This is a plot point in Creator/StanislawLem's ''The Invincible''. [[spoiler:The crew is exploring a planet where all terrestrial life seems to be missing, and which is "inhabited" mainly by unintelligent insect-sized robots. They discover the hard way that these robots combine in powerful and dangerous "clouds" which wiped out most organic life]]. Published in 1964, it's arguably [[UrExample one of the first depictions]] of this trope.

* ''Series/Supergirl2015'': In the Season Two episode "Ace Reporter", the VillainOfTheWeek gains control of nanobots that are originally intended for medical use and give an instant HealingFactor. However, the nanobots can also do the opposite and destroy a normal human body in an instant. The villain can also use them for mind-control and, in big enough numbers, can even asphyxiate a Kryptonian.
* Played for laughs with the nanites in ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'', who regularly go on strike or rebel since they hate their jobs.

* ''TabletopGame/EclipsePhase'' allows characters to [[BrainUploading download]] their brain into a microbot swarm.

* The ''[[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' version of the supervillain Swarm is made of nanomachines instead of bees like his comic book version.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "Benderama", Bender uses the Professor's new matter replicator to make small copies of himself, who then make smaller copies of themselves until the world is beset by millions of microscopic Benders who are small enough to manipulate individual atoms and turn all water on Earth into alcohol (which powers them). For the climax, they form together into one giant Bender to fight an alien giant.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'' episode "Nano of the North", the titular girls have to fight off a swarm of carbon-eating nanobots that are attacking the town.
* The ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' episode "Infiltrator" features the team battling to neutralize "the fog", composed of millions of nanobots.

Related to {{Synchronization}}, SynchronizedSwarming and HeartIsAnAwesomePower. Compare TheWormThatWalks for organic beings and TheSwarm. See NanoMachines and GreyGoo for swarms of even smaller robots.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' episode "Nano of the North", the titular girls have to fight off a swarm of carbon-eating nanobots that are attacking the town.

* The microbots created by protagonist Hiro Hamada in ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6''. These microsized robots are capable of coming together in order to take many different forms, allowing them to perform complex tasks that would normally require many human hands with a thought projected through a transceiver. They are taken by the BigBad of the film, Yokai, for his evil plans, which include forming a swarm of them to travel through town and destroy anything in his way.