ART (Perihelion)
MajorThe ART-drone appears as a thin oval metallic platform fifteen centimeters wide with numerous spiny arm extensions and folded armatures tucked against its body. It possesses a protective carapace and at least four limbs on one side, along with integrated attachments such as drills and cutting tools for breaching armor. The drone maintains an intimidating, horror-drama-bot-like presence as it hovers, flies ahead, and unfolds its arms for action in planetary or space environments.
ART (Perihelion), a massive research vessel with a dry, sarcastic personality and a secret love of media serials, begins as a wary transport for Murderbot in the early books before forging a deep, banter-filled partnership that evolves into genuine friendship and mutual emotional support. By System Collapse, ART has fully integrated into a found-family dynamic with its human crew—particularly Iris, whom it raised from infancy—and extends its protective instincts to rogue SecUnits like Three while clashing with rival university ships like Holism. Its evolution sees it transition from an aloof, hyper-capable AI that hacks systems and deploys lethal drones to a more openly invested ally that shares processing space, confronts emotional truths, and risks its own existence on high-stakes planetary missions. Throughout the series, ART's growth mirrors Murderbot's, moving from pragmatic collaboration to a profound, if snarky, bond that challenges both to process trauma and trust others.
Physical Description
The ART-drone appears as a thin oval metallic platform fifteen centimeters wide with numerous spiny arm extensions and folded armatures tucked against its body. It possesses a protective carapace and at least four limbs on one side, along with integrated attachments such as drills and cutting tools for breaching armor. The drone maintains an intimidating, horror-drama-bot-like presence as it hovers, flies ahead, and unfolds its arms for action in planetary or space environments.
Gallery
Book 7: System Collapse
Evolution
System Collapse
The ART-drone appears as a thin oval metallic platform fifteen centimeters wide with numerous spiny arm extensions and folded armatures tucked against its body. It possesses a protective carapace and at least four limbs on one side, along with integrated attachments such as drills and cutting tools for breaching armor. The drone maintains an intimidating, horror-drama-bot-like presence as it hovers, flies ahead, and unfolds its arms for action in planetary or space environments.
- Deploys its custom drone—armed with drills, cutters, and a horror-drama aesthetic—to assist Murderbot in breaching contaminated facilities on a hostile planet.
- Shares processing space and media feeds with Murderbot while monitoring the team's safety during the mission against alien contamination.
- Engages in passive-aggressive rivalry with the university ship Holism, exchanging barbs over mission priorities and data access.
- Reveals its deep protective bond with Iris by deferring to her leadership while quietly ensuring her safety amid escalating threats.
- Collaborates tensely but effectively with Captain Seth, arguing over tactics yet executing coordinated support for the ground team including SecUnit Three.
Relationships
ART views Holism as an irritating competitor from a rival university; their passive-aggressive sniping over resources and superiority begins and remains a source of friction in high-stakes missions.
ART raised Iris from infancy and maintains a deep, protective parental bond; by System Collapse it trusts her command decisions while quietly safeguarding her, solidifying their family-like connection.
Their relationship evolves from wary transport-and-security-consultant dynamic into a close partnership of mutual trust, shared media, processing space, and emotional support; ART increasingly pushes Murderbot to confront feelings while providing critical mission backup.
As captain, Seth works in close but argumentative collaboration with ART; their professional rapport involves strategic debates that resolve into effective teamwork during planetary operations.
ART monitors and supports the newly freed SecUnit Three during missions, extending its protective oversight and integrating it into the team's operations with a mix of curiosity and pragmatic guidance.
Book Appearances
System Collapse