The Omega Factor

[Toshio Tenma]

The Omega Factor is a hazardous device introduced in the original manga which later was used for the animated series.
A variation of it appeared in 2003 series.

Overview: The Omega Factor can make the robots have a evil mind which may turn them able to make several crimes and even including murder.
However, it have a drawback, as the robot can turn against it's own creator.
A variation of it appears in the 2003 series, but make the robot turn into a puppet who only obey voice commands.

Original 1952 manga: The Omega Factor was created by Dr. Ram who is a incan (!) filled with the desire of revenge against the whites for the slavery and special due the death of his mother.

To accomplish his goal, he build a powerful robot called Atlas and in the omega factor circuit on him.

As side result, Atlas commit several crimes, however after being forced to replace his head with one similar of Atom, the robot returns to his master's hideout and mortally wound him after accusing his own master of slaving him.

1963 anime: The story is basically the same with a couple of changes, but in the final confrontation, Atlas do not murder Dr. Ram, just leave him behind despite his pleas since the lava was reaching the rock where his creator was.
A side effect of the Omega Factor which make the robot unable to care about human's life.

1980 anime: This time the Omega Factor was presented by Skunk who wanted to convince Dr. Tenma to use it for his next invention since he got several failures while trying to create a robot with feelings.

However, Dr. Tenma refused and later the blue prints of his latest robot model, created after the death of Tobio, got stolen and bought to Count Walpurgis.

Walpurgis created a robot named Atlas (originally in child form) who comitted several crimes, but after Livian (the robot maid in care of Atlas) was destroyed by their creator for breaking a gargula, Atlas attacks his master in a fit of rage but is seriously damaged as a result.

Later Atlas manage to rebuild himself in a more adult body through unknown means and also revive Livian and continue his wave of crimes.

Later Count Walpurgis attempt to blackmail Atlas into stealing a orbital cannon by planting a bomb which would destroy Livian for good, during the attempt of stealing the cannon Atlas is stopped by Atom and learn that he is his brother.
The mission fails after the cannon is fired and damaged through debris of it's target, so Atlas escapes...

Livian manage to steal the detonator from Walpurgis and escapes to Atlas ship who launch a beam which pulverize Walpurgis alongside his castle for good.

Walpurgis was completely unable to realize the Omega Factor was a failure since any robot who had it could gone against himself and kill him.

2003 series: A variation of the Omega Factor was created by Dr. Pavlos who wanted revenge against both Dr. Ochanomizu and Dr. Tenma, however the device rather than giving a evil mind was able of making the robot turn into a mindless puppet which could only follow orders through voice commands.

The first victim was Uran who got the device externally which was in a headband given to her after she won a little quiz game and then it was inserted in Atlas electronic brain making him attack Atom.

Later with Dr. Tenma's interference the device was neutralized.

Trivia: Astro Boy Tetsuwan Atom: Atom Heart No Himitsu (アストロボーイ・鉄腕アトム -アトムハートの秘密- Asutoro Bōi: Tetsuwan Atomu - Atomu Hāto no Himitsu, lit. Astro Boy: Mighty Atom - The Secret of Atom's Heart) was released overseas as "Astro Boy: The Omega Factor" which is ironic since the Omega Factor is a device which either drive a robot into madness or deprive it of it's own mind.

The Omega Factor was describbed as the device capable of giving a mind for a robot while it's actually the opposite of kokoro from the actual series canon..

[omega.factor]

I have always interpreted the Omega Factor as something that allows Robot's with it installed to simply decide for them selves, to in essence defeat their own programming code which is designed to away obey or follow laws in black and white without any grey (like a human) - who can therefore decide to lie.. that said, the Liar Robot was programmed to lie, it was part of his ability. I'm basing this on my experience in the 80s Astroboys.

[Toshio Tenma]