The Sims 4 Robotics Skill

Cybernetics, Utili-Bots, Money-Making and Crafting Robots

The Robotics Skill in The Sims 4 Discover University
Robotics is a new skill in The Sims 4 Discover University Expansion Pack

The Robotics skill was a new addition with Discover University and allows your Sim to make bots that help out around the house, as well as Servo who can live with you... But that's not all! They can also craft a Robo-Arm that helps with crafting speeds and skill gains.

Leveling Robotics

Use the robotics workstation to level the robotics skill in The Sims 4 Discover University DLC
The Robotics Workstation is your go-to for crafting robots. Ok it's the only thing.

While of course you're free to learn Robotics from a book, you should really learn by doing if you can afford it. Dr. F's Robotics Workstation is $1,100 Simoleons and tinkering on it will yield you the Robot Salvage Parts that you need to craft things. It saves a tiny bit of money, but more importantly provides some skill experience.

You need robot salvage parts to craft robots in The Sims 4
Robot Salvage Parts are a new type of Upgrade Part you can purchase or make while 'Tinkering' at the Robotics Workstation

All the various things you can make with Robotics can actually be sold for money, so don't worry about risking your investment. Some of them take some cash in addition to parts (including those from the Handiness Skill). The developers set things up so that you're actually able to do (some parts of) robotics retail if you so choose, but it's possible to just sell them from your Sim's inventory and make a little money on toys.

-->

Warning: Death by Electric Shock

A Sim being shocked to death by working with electronics in the Robotics Skill from Discover University
My Sim being shocked to death while working on a simple toy. The Robotics Skill is now the most dangerous skill in The Sims 4

While on my way to level 6 Robotics skill, I got shocked no less than 12 times which is an absurd amount that I hope they'll change. Any time you have this happen, your Sim gets dazed. It's a warning which will last about two hours. I was curious if I could be killed like with handiness repairs, and gave it a go after saving. Yes, I died. This skill's shock rate is ridiculously high when working on the materials and simple toys. I'm curious if I'll end up shocked 10x making a Servo. There are items from high level that help you prevent shocks, but evidently Sims are very bad at working with electronics.

Making Money With Robotics

You can make and sell toy robots to make money with Robotics in Discover University
Making and selling toy robots is one way to make money with Discover University's robotics skill.

Because of the need for parts, the only profitable early-game item for a Robotics expert is the Chatter Bot toy. This requires $30 and another $20 in Robot Salvage Parts (4, if purchased from computer). It sells for $150 or so, so it's definitely profitable but nowhere near as worth it as other skills. However there are some nice things about Robotics that make it worth pursing for reasons other than money making.

Robotics Skill Unlocks

The Robo-Arm cybernetic enhancement you can make for Robotics in The Sims 4
The Robo-Arm is a cybernetic enhancement skill roboticists can make for their Sims. Once equipped, it provides some bonuses discussed below.

As you level up Robotics, you gradually learn to craft new types of bots. Here's a list of what you unlock, with details on the individual abilities further down.

  • Level 1 - Your newfound Robotics Skill will allow you to create robotic marvels that will leave other Sims in awe of your inventive genius. You can purchase raw Robotics Salvage for your creations from the computer or scavenge the parts from electronic waste.
  • Level 2 - Your Sim can now craft the Computer Chip, Mechanism, and RC Quadcopter on the Robotics Workstation.
  • Level 3 - Sim can now craft a new Utili-Bot at the Robotics Workstation! The Cleaner-Bot is a nifty addition to any home.
  • Level 4 - Sim can now craft a new Utili-Bot at the Robotics Workstation! The Party-Bot helps get any party started.
  • Level 5 - Sim can now craft a new Utili-Bot at the Robotics Workstation! The Gardener-Bot helps maintain the most unruly of gardens.
  • Level 6 - Sim can now craft a new Utili-Bot at the Robotics Workstation! The Fixer-Bot helps repair items around the house.
  • Level 7 - Your Sim can now craft the Robo-Arm at the Robotics Workstation!
  • Level 8 - Your Sim can now craft a Servo at the Robotics Workstation.
  • Level 9 - It's now possible to Enhance a Servo with the Sim Defense Matrix Behavior Module!
  • Level 10 - Sim can now Enhance a Servo with the RoboNanny Behavior Module!

Materials: Computer Chips and Mechanisms

Quadcopters in The Sims 4 Discover University, made with the Robotics Skill that comes with the Expansion
As you can see, Quadcopters take a bit more parts. This results in them being either less profitable or more time consuming than the simple toys.

Other than getting shocked regularly, this is perhaps the most frustrating part of the skill, and a place where using crafting in The Sims 4 highlights its flaws. It's not made for crafting in convenience, so you must craft computer chips and mechanisms that you need for other things one at a time. At least they're free, unlike the electronics and other upgrade parts you need to make an actual robot... but it would've been better to allow a Sim to craft more than one at a time or queue up the interaction more than once.

Utili-Bots

Utili-Bots like the Fixer-Bot can be used to do a variety of things, but their batteries and durability drain while on. They enter a 'searching' mode where they are constantly looking for things to fix.

The game throws a bunch of Utili-Bots at you between levels 3 and 6. The bots themselves are Not Bad, you just need to only activate them whenever you actually need them. They will do exactly what you'd expect and take care of problems. Your Sim activates them via remote, and only needs to do occasional maintenance on them. The four types of Utili-Bots are:

  • Cleaner-Bot (Level 3) - Tidies up around the house.
  • Party-Bot (Level 4) - Serves meals to guests upon request.
  • Gardener-Bot (Level 5) - Tends to the garden when there is work to be done.
  • Fixer-Bot (Level 6) - Repairs things around the house that are broken.

To give you an idea what they cost in terms of materials, the Gardener-Bot and Fixer-Bot both take:

  • Common Upgrade Part x10
  • Plumbing Upgrade Part x3
  • Mechanism x5
  • Computer Chip x2
  • Robot Salvage Part x20

If nothing needs done, these guys should be off because otherwise their durability is draining constantly.

We were told that you can sell bots at retail before launch, but I spent $1500 plus the above parts to make a bot of "Excellent!" quality and sold it for $800. I lost over $1200, off the top of my head. It turns out that this is a bug using the sell button on robots themselves. I tested it while recording a video for this skill, and the ultimate result is that dragging the bots to the inventory sell button will actually give you a proper price (think $3500 for a fully constructed Utili-Bot) and the sell button gave me $80. So... Don't use the Sell Interaction until it's fixed unless you like losing money..

Bots do sell for more when they're enhanced, but even at 3 levels upgraded they only went for $960.

Enhancing Utili-Bots

Utili-Bots can be enhanced, for the cost of 10 Robot Salvage parts, 1 common upgrade part, 2 electronic, 1 kitchen, 2 Mechanisms, and 1 Computer Chip. It's a lot of scavenging for parts, ordering from the computer and making mechanisms and computer chips one at a time at the Robotics Workstation.

You can upgrade your Utili-bots a total 10x, each time getting a little better durability, or energy drain, or energy recharge rate. It's good, but the way the parts are handled makes it somewhat frustrating. It is nice if you like one of the bot types you can push it to be even better.

Robo-Arm

The Robotic Arm Cybernetic Enhancement in The Sims 4
The Robo-Arm enhances your Sim with Cybernetics.

The Robo-Arm is the one thing that reduced the rate of my Sim being shocked, though it didn't negate it all together until I was max-level Robotics. While I have been "mean" to many parts of this skill, I have to admit... I love this thing! Not only does it look cool, it also increases robotics skill gains by 25%, and boosts crafting speeds by 20%. This is one of the only instances of this bonus in the game! And, of course, it makes you get shocked less. Use this with Marketable to make even more money in any skill that requires crafting.

Servo

At Level 8 in Robotics, you can craft Servo, who I'll cover tomorrow. He takes a GOB of parts. Here's what you need in case you want to plan ahead:

  • Electronic Upgrade Part X10
  • Common Upgrade Part x15
  • Kitchen Upgrade Part x15
  • Plumbing Upgrade Part x2
  • Mechanism x18
  • Computer Chip x12
  • Robot Salvage Part x75

So in order to make a Servo, you need about $1200 in Electronic Upgrade Parts, $150 in Common, $1350 in Kitchen Upgarde Parts, $60 in Plumbing, and $375 in Robot Salvage Parts. The grand total for this is $3,135 and you still need to craft, one at a time, 18 Mechanism and 12 Computer Chips which will take about 30 hours. Yes, making a Servo should be an achievement but I don't stand by the idea this is somehow OK that his value is $6,000 retail.

Coming Soon

I need to touch on Mechanical Engineer and Servo itself. The new robot is actually pretty cool despite the annoying crafting process. When I'm done, we'll have a good deal more information on cybernetics in The Sims 4 Discover University. See, Computer Engineers can get a special helmet/visor and Mechanical Engineers can make an entire Exo-suit that gives them the ability to hover. Both of these are great additions to the pack. So I'm a bit salty about how Robotics went down when I examined it, but I do want people who read this to understand that it's only because I was excited about it. I'd rather have things to be excited about and maybe be let down sometimes than to never feel that. In this case, I was not happy with what I found examining robotics.

Other Discover University Guides

Sims 4 Skill Guides

Acting  |  Archaeology  |  Baking  |  Charisma  |  Comedy  |  Cooking  |  Dancing  |  DJ Mixing  |  Fabrication  |  Fishing  |  Fitness  |  Flower Arranging  |  Gardening  |  Gourmet Cooking  |  Guitar  |  Handiness  |  Herbalism  |  Juice Fizzing  |  Logic  |  Media Production  |  Mischief  |  Mixology  |  Painting  |  Parenting  |  Photography  |  Piano  |  Programming  |  Research and Debate    Robotics  |  Rock Climbing  |  Rocket Science  |  Singing  |  Skiing  |  Snowboarding  |  Vampire Lore  |  Veterinarian  |  Video Gaming  |  Violin  |  Wellness  |  Writing

How You Can Support The Site and Channel

If you like my sites and Youtube Channel, consider supporting me on Patreon to help me to continue.

Back to The Top


Check Out My Youtube Channel!

We now have a Youtube Channel with over 50 guides in video format to go along with the huge site I've already created. Check it out and consider subscribing if you like my style.


Add Comment

* Required information
2000

Comments (18)

Gravatar
New
Devonsays...

If you get handiness up to lvl 5+ one of the supposed benefits is that you get shocked less while repairing electronics. After I hit level 5 handiness, I also noticed I got shocked much less during robotics. Possibly connected?

Gravatar
Admin
Playalotsays...

Undoubtedly connected.

Gravatar
New
Yunshan Gaosays...

So I just noticed that if you simply drag your utility bot to the "drop the item here to sell" area, a level 1 bot gives you 1750 (which is probably the same price as its costs) and a level 2 bot gives you 3500.

Gravatar
New
Zerosays...

Would be nice if we could actually play as the servo but I'm guessing it operates more like a roommate or Butler. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think we could have played as a robot in Sims 2 and I think they also had genders and we could've woohooed the robot as well.

Gravatar
Admin
Playalotsays...

You do have full control over any servo your sims makes and then activates as they become part of your active household.

Gravatar
New
Zerosays...

So can the servos increase in skills? And live on their own? Can they create more servos?

Gravatar
Admin
Playalotsays...

Servos can increase skills and get degrees etc but can't live on their own until they have been enhanced to a certain enhancement level (level 7 maybe?) as until then they need another sim to tune them and repair them as their stats decrease over time. Around Level 7 (I think) they can self repair and repair other servos so can live in their own household if you wanted them to. I don't know if servos can build other servos but as they can gain the robotics skill I can't see why not. I'm just going off Carl's notes here as tbh the whole robotics skill doesn't interest me and I haven't played though it all yet.

Gravatar
New
AimeePavaisays...

I have been able to play as a Servo after going through a few steps first. They are as follows: After you have gotten your Robotics Skill up to the level required, craft your Servo and get him/her to the Enhanced level to be able to self repair. Then make sure you have "testingcheats true" active then add "cas.fulleditmode" in as well. Shift+click on one of your Sims and go into CAS then removed the extra Sim(s) leaving just your Servo in the active family and save to the Gallery. You can now start a new game, or save and continue playing the current game, playing with the Servo you made. You can also build more of them as Servo if you want to.

Gravatar
New
Katiesays...

You can sell the utili-bots for more directly from your inventory rather than selling them on the bot work station.

Gravatar
Regular
Aurelia Auritasays...

I actually don't mind not getting rich by selling robots. Imo you get money out of almost everything, so as long as it's fun or useful in any way, it doesn't need to make you rich. I like the stuff the Sims can craft and wear. I would love to see more content of that kind.

Gravatar
Senior
Carlsays...

I agree it's fine to not make money on everything in the game. However, having explored this issue further, it's not OK to have a bugged sell button. That's actually what's up. At the moment, it's actually possible to make plenty of money with robotics, but the 'Sell' button is bugged at least on some models of Utili-bot. Pressing this, you'll get something like $80 for a fully constructed bot with about $2000 in parts + cash in it. Dragging it from the inventory to the sell button is the way to go and actually gives a profit, not a massive loss.

Gravatar
New
Highlandersays...

One way to get Robot Salvage parts is by Experimenting at the Chemistry Lab. Not sure why it works, but it does.

You can also get them while harvesting collectibles.

Gravatar
Admin
Playalotsays...

Also when repairing broken plumbing.

Gravatar
Senior
Brian Zsays...

I have a student who's working on robotics, so she uses the workstation in the commons. I got so sick of people pestering her to play ping pong I had her torch the table (she's a spellcaster). Also if it's Mixer Night she turns the annoying UBrite students into inanimate objects if they come harass her.

Also, enhancing a utili-bot isn't working for me, all the materials get wasted and nothing happens.

Gravatar
Admin
Playalotsays...

I haven't had an issue with enhancing servos/bots but have seem other people talk about this. I can't see a bug report on this so not sure if it is a bug or something else. Maybe do some testing a new save with no cc and no mods and see if you can reproduce the problem and if you can then make a bug report about it. EA Bug Forum

Gravatar
New
Reekyteeksays...

For bots I have had to run them until they were basically broken to even get the enhance interaction but then it worked fine for me, I have been working on my home lot though. For a servo I had to get them to learn skills before the enhance interaction became available but after that it was not a problem. Hope this helps.

Gravatar
New
Vickisays...

How do you remove a robo arm from your sim?

Gravatar
Admin
Playalotsays...

There is an interaction for that when you click on your Sim

Gravatar
New
Damiennsays...

It should have an option either on your sim or in the inventory, my memories are kinda foggy

Gravatar
New
Reekyteeksays...

I have made the servo and while it takes quite a while to make and even longer to level up (Servos need to gain skills and once it has hit a certain amount of skill gain it can be upgraded.) The upgrades are important. I call level zero servos baby bots because they have no skills, even the ones I expected it to have like the behavior modules that were mentioned while gaining enough robotics skill to make a servo in the first place, eg nanny bot, gardener bot. Once you start upgrading the servo is great though, the sim defense module is fantastic if you are playing a celeb sim because the servo can act as a body guard and zap paparatzi and annoying fans. The gardening ability makes your plants gain quality faster, and who wouldn't want a live in nanny. You can even send your servo to work to earn money for the family. I am really enjoying my servos. (my family currently has 4 servos as I am still experimenting with them.)

Gravatar
New
fabiosays...

Buenas, tengo la duda, mi utilibot limpiador es nivel 3 pero no me sale la opción de mejorar, alguna respuesta por favor.

Gravatar
New
fabiosays...

estas son las imagenes que describen mi duda, no me sale para mejorar a mas niveles.

UploadUpload
Gravatar
Admin
Playalotsays...

Servos need to gain skills and once it has hit a certain amount of skill gain it can be upgraded.

Gravatar
New
Damiennsays...

Hello! I've gone three a super sim playthrough (it's on the Carl Sim Guides YT) and just to let everyone know, with all, by the time you craft all of the computer parts and mechanism, you should be pretty close to unlocking the servo, just a heads up.

Gravatar
New
SciffyCircosays...

I've managed to build the robot arm. I equipped it It wasn't showing. Yes, I have mods, so I thought, maybe that was the issue. Went to another Sim, who didn't have tattoos up and down his arms. Still not showing. Now I wonder, is it because they were all spellcasters?

Go online, see that there's a new glitch where nobody can remove the arm. Huh, I was able to put it on, take it off, give it to somebody else, they did the same. But it wasn't showing, graphics-wise, either of them with the arm.

Maybe I need to try with somebody who's not a spellcaster? I may need to create one then, I've converted almost everyone with the Rite of Ascension.

Gravatar
New
Lucifer Amadeussays...

Question: Does the robo-arm provides global crafting speed gain or is it only for robotic crafting speed gain?

Gravatar
New
shatinnsays...

I built my servo but he has no face display. The panel is black without any emotion show. I have no cc in the game atm. He is my second robot, the first one didn't have it either. What I did wrong? I am curious.

Gravatar
New
Jennsays...

My Servo just died of Catastrophic Meltdown while he was crafting a bot. I paused as he died -- he had Durability in the green, and no Dazed moodlet. I wonder if that was a bug or by design. Poor guy.

Gravatar
New
Dinkyfishsays...

Is the servo section not coming? :(

Gravatar
New
Gymea Lilliesays...

It has been over two years, so I'm guessing not.

Gravatar
New
Dannisays...

Does dismantling robots give you back all the upgrade parts?

Gravatar
New
Unclesays...

What’s skill level do you need for a robotics degree at Ubrite ?



Make Seasons Better!

Sims 4 Seasons CheatsThe Sims 4 Seasons expansion now has options! Want to disable weather or make plants in season year-round? You can do so with my new Seasons Tuner Mod

  • Disable Seasons individually
  • Always Sunny! Set to Base Game Weather
  • Grow Year Round - Make Plants Always in Season!
  • Healthy Year Round - No more Winter twigs
  • Disable Color Changes - on ALL Plants & Trees
  • Disable Fall Leaves
  • Disable Ground Snow
  • Keep the Stuff You Paid For!

A Deeper Game

The past month, I've spent every day tinkering The Sims 4, making quality of life improvements, gameplay changes, and new difficulty settings for the game. If you'd like to learn more about my project, visit the post on Patreon where you can download it now.

Cottage living

The Sims 4 Cottage LivingCottage Living Guide! Here is my guide to new features in the Sims 4 Cottage Living Expansion

You can also find handy Cottage Living Cheats

I have much more to come, since you can actually write a few guides about this pack!

Calling all Blender Users

Blender has been incredibly useful in video production, so I made my own Physics and Simulation Improvement Addon that lumps a ton of unique tools into one compact interface.

Sims 4 Snowy Escape

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape launches November 13, 2020 and my coverage has started. Until I get my review ready, you can learn about the following:

Snowy Escape Cheats
Lifestyles in Snowy Escape
Climb Mt. Komorebi
Sentiments in Snowy Escape
Rock Climbing
Skiing Skill
Snowboarding Skill

Sentiments & Platforms (Free Patch!)

I've released a guide to Sentiments in The Sims 4 & Snowy Escape.

There is a new platform tool in The Sims 4. There's also a new Sentiments system, but it'll take some time to create a guide to that. Players can also use rental lots in any world now by changing lot types of builds in manage worlds.

Best Mods in Sims 4

I've created a massive List of The Best Mods in The Sims 4 that should be very helpful to new players and those who have not yet explored modding and how much it can do for your gameplay.

Search my Sims 4 Site

Support Us

Readers who use adblock or those who'd like to thank me for my efforts can now pledge $1/$5 monthly via Patreon. This helps a lot with server costs and provides some stability for my business.

Super Sim Checklist + Other News

Super Sim Text + Checklist and Video Guide! Here is my Super Sim Challenge Guide and Checklist to accompany my video guide to making Super Sims in The Sims 4 that you can view on Youtube.

This is inspired by a new series in which I start at toddler and gradually take on the major bonuses. Here's a link to the full playlist!

I now have a guide page to Tiny Living Stuff where you can learn about Murphy Beds, the new death, as well as the lot bonuses you'll receive if you manage to keep the size of your lot down with this new pack's Tiny Home Lot Type.

Let's Play Playlist

Super Sim Gameplay in The Sims 4

New I now have a guide to Making Super Sims in The Sims 4. Look for a text version within the next 72h. It won't have THAT much more info but it will help out as a checklist.

This was inspired by a series, "Let's Play a Super Sim" in which I start at toddler and gradually take on the major bonuses. Here's a link to each part for people who are interested. You can also see the Let's Play as a Playlist on Youtube.