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The name or term "Terminator" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Terminator (disambiguation).
T2-t800-film-02

A T-800 Terminator

A Terminator is a type of Hunter-Killer designed to terminate other life forms. Terminators are built by an artificially intelligent computer called Skynet in order to wipe out the remains of the human race after Judgment Day.

A Terminator with a female outer sheath is referred to as a Terminatrix. [1][2]

Development of the Terminators

How the original Terminators were built is unknown, at least in one timeline (Terminator 2: Judgment Day), Cyberdyne Systems was able to reverse-engineer and develop robots from the scavenged hand and CPU of the destroyed T-800 in 1984.[3] Cyberdyne Systems had created the T-70 Terminator to impress investors and people with military interests to finance them to improve robotics technology.

Later in an altered timeline (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines) created by the destruction of Cyberdyne, US Military (or Cyber Research Systems as shown in the film Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines) use the reverse engineered technology from Cyberdyne Systems to developed T-800 prior to Judgment Day in addition to T-1, the first model of Terminator Series, to replace soldiers on the battlefield prior to the Judgment Day.[4][5] Hence, the T-800 is fully operational in 2010s in both T2 Saga and Terminator Salvation timeline.

In Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles timeline, Cameron Phillips establishes that modern Terminators are made of coltan for heat resistance, while previous models were made of titanium. Normally, the living tissue outer sheath can age over years.[6]More advanced flesh used on T-888s appears to not suffer the effects of age or deprivation during hibernation, such as Myron Stark, who is able to maintain his organic covering while sealed within a wall for eighty years.[7] Terminator flesh lacerations can be repaired.[8][9]

Although clearly not the normal procedure, a bare T-888 endoskeleton was able to grow itself a new flesh covering using 2007 technology (with the assistance of a geneticist and its own knowledge of future formulas) by submerging itself in a blood-like bath. This improvised process resulted in a deformed covering that had the appearance of a burn victim and lacked its own biological eyes, requiring it to steal those of the geneticist and subsequently undergo cosmetic surgery to produce a more normal appearance.[10]

It has been shown that Terminator flesh coverings are somehow grown identically, producing many multiple copies of exactly the same physical appearance, indicating the use of specific physical templates for different variations of a model. The most well known is that worn by multiple Model 101 units, as well as a T-888 model known as "Vick Chamberlain" having a memory of facing a room (presumably in the factory where it was created) of several dozen units sharing an identical template to itself, naked and moving in unison. Some Terminators' outer coverings are custom-designed to copy the appearances of humans whom they are intended to kill and replace, such as Carl Greenway[11], James Ellison[12], and Allison Young[13]

I-950 Series

Main article: I-950

Unlike the T series Terminators, the I series Infiltrators are bred instead of factory-built machines. Skynet decided that the best way for one of its Terminators to act human was to start out as a human and add technological enhancements wherever necessary. The I-950 starts out as a genetically-engineered baby with a neural net processor attached to its brain, providing an up-link to Skynet. To condition it physically, it is coaxed with holographic toys to crawl until it is exhausted. After four years, it is given an injection that rapidly ages it to maturity to finish its training. In an effort to blend in better with humans, the I-950 is allowed to feel emotions, but the range of emotions is limited by one of its cybernetic implants. Because it is far more human than machine, dogs are not alerted to its presence, and the infiltrator can go undetected for extremely long periods of time inside a Resistance base.

The I-950 can carry a T-101's CPU in case they are needed, as well as power cells. Once the "living" portion of the I-950 is dead, the CPU then takes control of the body, but can only do so for a short time. They can reproduce with other I-950s, but not humans. If the female I-950 decides that a pregnancy would stop them from carrying out their mission, they could fertilize their eggs in vitro and implant them in human surrogate wombs. They are also able to clone themselves.

Non-Humanoid Terminators

Main article: Non-Humanoid Hunter Killer

Skynet has employed several robots not designed to appear as humans, even while having access to those that are. Simple Humanoid Hunter-Killers share the endoskeleton and combat characteristics with Infiltrators, but not the living tissue sheath. Instead, they serve as general infantry.

Non-humanoid Hunter-Killers are robotic versions of various vehicles, built with roughly the same technologies as the contemporary Terminators, such as HK-Aerials, HK-Tanks, Moto-Terminators, and Spider Tanks. -->

Classification

See also: Terminator Series

Non-Humanoid Hunter Killer

Humanoid Hunter Killer

Main article: Humanoid Hunter Killer

The Humanoid Hunter Killer is an android developed and intended to be similar to a human endoskeleton in look and function.

  • T-70
    A tall and basic Terminator model designed as a basic foot soldier
  • T-400
    A multi-purpose unit designed for close-quarters combat.
  • T-500
    The first true Terminator featured an armored battle chassis that made it more durable than the T-400.
  • T-Infinity
    A multi-phasic machine armed with multiple onboard weaponry and a TDE device.

Infiltrators

Main article: Infiltrator

The Infiltrator is a type of the Humanoid Hunter Killer that is built to look exactly like humans and used to infiltrate, seek out and kill human beings. The Infiltrator progresses from rubber skin, human flesh over its endoskeleton, to mimetic polyalloy able to mimic any person or object.

  • T-600
    The first Infiltrator model that possesses a rubber skin sheath.
  • T-700
    The first generation of the T-800.
  • T-800
    A breakthrough Terminator that uses living tissue covering for superior infiltration.
    • T-8xx
      Various variants of the Series 800 Terminator
  • T-900 (Rise of the Machines)
    A hyper-alloy armored Terminator designed to eliminate other machines.
    • T-950
      An advanced endoskeleton modified from the T-900 that possesses onboard weaponry.
  • T-X
    An advanced endoskeleton based on T-950 that possesses mimetic polyalloy and onboard weaponry.
  • T-900 (The Sarah Connor Chronicles)
    A advanced Infiltrator able to mimic humans.
  • TS-300 (created by MIR)
    A ceramic Terminator designed to replace specific individuals.
  • T-1000
    A mimetic polyalloy Terminator capable of altering its form and appearance.
  • T-3000
    A highly advanced infiltrator model. Made from infecting human being with nano-machines and having them replace the tissue of the subject.
  • T-5000
    A highly advanced Terminator model. Used by Skynet to store its consciousness and infect John Connor with nano-robots and turn him into a T-3000.

Dark Fate timeline

In the Dark Fate timeline, Skynet is replaced by Legion, an AI that creates unique versions of Terminator, designated as "Rev" along with a number signifying what model. These Terminator so seen so far have both an Endoskeleton with a mimetic polyalloy sheath, a concept similar to T-X. A unique ability allows these units to split into two separate units, one the endoskeleton, the other the polyalloy Terminator.

Notes

  • Due to different alternate timelines caused by various time travel missions, the future is changing and the creation date of the Terminators is changing as well.
  • In most of the Terminator fictions, Terminators deployed in the Future War usually kill human upon they find one. However, Infiltrators sent to the past seem to be programmed to kill only their primary targets and most of them only kill human when needed, such as anyone who gets in their way, or those who are to be impersonated in order to get close to the targets.

Nomenclature

In Terminator 2: Judgment Day DVD commentary, "Model" refer to the outer appearance, while "Series" refers to the endoskeleton common to many types.

The end credits of all three films list Arnold Schwarzenegger's character as simply the "Terminator". Later films credit the newer Terminators by their series numbers, such as "T-1000", "T-X", or "T-800".

Those being chased by a Terminator, will often simply call it the "Terminator" (as Reese does throughout the first film). If more than one type of Terminator is involved more specific names may be used; ranging from an official designation to a variety of nicknames. The most common seems to be to add "T-" to the beginning of the series number.

Known appellations

Nomenclature table

Official Designation Common Name Other Names
Cyberdyne future (The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and T2 3-D: Battle Across Time)
Cyberdyne Systems Series 70[28][29] T-70[28][29]
T-600[17][25][16]
  • Terminator, Series T-600[17]
  • Terminator, T-600 [16]
  • T-600 Model [25]
  • 600 Series[21]
T-700[30]
Cyberdyne Systems
Series 800 Model 101
T-800[29][31]
  • Series 800[32]
  • Series 800 Terminator[20]
  • Series 800 Model 101[27]
  • 800 Series[24]
  • 800 Series Model 101[23]
  • Model T-800[26]
Cyberdyne Systems
Series 800 Model 101
Version 2.4
###[18]
T-1000 [33]
  • T-1000 Advanced Prototype[34]
  • 1000 Series[24]
T-Meg[35]
  • T-1000000[29]
  • T One Million
Legion Future ("Judgement Day" Timeline - Terminator: Dark Fate)
Rev-7
Rev-9
Cyber Research future (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines)
T-1 [36]
  • T-1 Ground Assault Vehicle[27]
  • T-1 Battlefield Robot, fully autonomous Ground Offensive System[37]
  • T1 Proto Type[38]
Cyber Research Systems
Model 101 Series 850
[27]
T-850 [27]
  • T-850 Terminator[14]
  • Series 850[27]
  • Series 850 Model 101[27]
  • 850 Series Model 101[27]
Cyber Research Systems Model T-X[39]
(Series (if any) unspecified.)
T-X [36]
Third future (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles)
T-888[41][42]
Notes:
The most common descriptive name used in-universe to refer to the type in general.
Short names, and nicknames used rarely. etc.

Behind the Scenes

Inspirations

James Cameron asserts that he came up with the concept of the Terminator characters on his own. However, several works of science fiction predating his film have similar concepts, including "Soldier", "Demon with a Glass Hand", "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", "Second Variety", "Jon's World", Cyborg, La Jetée, and Cyborg 2087.

References

  1. Superman vs. The Terminator: Death to the Future
  2. 2.0 2.1 Used by John Connor once in dialog from the film Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
  3. This was an essential plot point in the sequel, even though it was a deleted scene.
  4. In Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, it is revealed that the US Military has already begun on developing Humanoid Terminator, which is a blurred T-800 as shown on digital blueprint in the film while clearly seen in deleted contents, notably "William Candy" segment.
  5. Hope Of The Future - Terminator 3 deleted scenes - CRS - Endoskeletons
  6. Terminator Genisys
  7. "Self Made Man"
  8. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
  9. "Samson & Delilah"
  10. "The Turk"
  11. "Automatic for the People"
  12. "Brothers of Nablus"
  13. "Allison from Palmdale"
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Merchandise such as "T-850 Terminator" or "T-X Terminatrix".
  15. "T-Infinity Temporal Terminator" in Terminator: Revolution.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 Kyle's line "Terminator T-600" in Terminator Salvation
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Terminator, Series T-600" in the game The Terminator: Future Shock
  18. 18.0 18.1 The HUD of the T-800 identifies it more specifically as a "Cyberdyne Systems Series 800 Model 101 Version 2.4" in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
  19. DVD extra from Terminator 2: Judgment Day
  20. 20.0 20.1 The script of Terminator 2: Judgment Day uses "the endoskeleton of a Series 800 Terminator".
  21. 21.0 21.1 Kyle Reese's line "the 600 Series" from the film The Terminator.
  22. 22.0 22.1 The Terminator novel
  23. 23.0 23.1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day teaser trailer
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 James Cameron's line "The 800 Series ... the 1000 Series" in commentary of Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 Cameron's line "T-600 models" in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles episode "Heavy Metal".
  26. 26.0 26.1 Terminator - 7" Action Figure - T-800 Endoskeleton (Retro Packaging) by NECA
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 27.6 27.7 27.8 Shown on screen in the special features from the Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines DVD, which identifies the T-850 as an "Series 850 Model 101", and the older Terminator as an "Series 800 Model 101". (The T3 DVD Extras swap the order of Series & Model for all references, not just the new ones.)
  28. 28.0 28.1 Script of T2 3-D: Battle Across Time
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Panasonic presents Terminator 2: 3D Special Site
  30. Official materials of Terminator Salvation
  31. The name "T-800" is used by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the DVD commentary for the film Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
  32. Flashed briefly in schematics used as DVD extras for Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
  33. Used throughout the film Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
  34. T-800's line "Terminator T-1000" in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
  35. Used by James Cameron in the Making of T2 3-D: Battle Across Time featured in Terminator 2: Judgment Day DVD.
  36. 36.0 36.1 Used throughout the film Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
  37. Dialog from the "Sgt. Candy" scene featured in the Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines DVD
  38. Shown on screen in its HUD.
  39. 39.0 39.1 A scan from another Terminator display this in the game Terminator 3: The Redemption.
  40. Terminator 3: Eyes of the Rise
  41. Official episode summaries for the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
  42. Displayed in the HUD when identifying another Terminator in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles episode "Heavy Metal".
  43. Used by Derek Reese in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles episode "Queen's Gambit".

External links


Terminator Series
Standard 000 - 1 (1-5 - 1-7) - 4 - 7 - H (U-5000) - 20 - 47 - 70 - 72 - 100 - 300 - 400 - 500 - 600 (650 - 660 - 690) - 700 (720 - 731 - 750 - 770 - 790 - 799) - 800 (8xx) - 900 (950) - X - 1000 (1001 - 1002 - XA - Meg) - Infinity - 2018 - 3000 - 4800 - 5000 - 8000
Other Sky-1 - T-90 / T-101 - I-950 - TS-300 - T-900 (TOK715) - New Terminator - Rev-7 - Rev-9 -
Dire Wolf - Moto-Terminator (Snowminator)
See also Hunter-Killer - Humanoid HK (Infiltrator - Endoskeleton) - Non-Humanoid HK - Series - Technology
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