Do androids use ki?

[Future Warrior]

We know that the Zetto Senshi can't sense their ki, with the explanation given that they are purely mechanical (with the case of #19 and #20 at least). Even then, we see several instances in the manga where they shoot out energy that seems to be identical to ki. What do you guys think this means?

 

[SSJ2]

Yeah. They can absorb it so I see no reason why they can’t use it.

 

[Boo Brand Milk]

I always thought "no" but it'd be a lot simpler if they simply could not be sensed due to plot n stuff.

 

[Future Warrior]

Yeah. They can absorb it so I see no reason why they can’t use it.

Do you think they can only use it after absorbing the energy?

Also, my question also factors in #17 and #18 as well.

 

[SSJ2]

Yeah. They can absorb it so I see no reason why they can’t use it.

Do you think they can only use it after absorbing the energy?

Also, my question also factors in #17 and #18 as well.

Interesting question. I’d imagine they could unless they were critically low on energy. 17 and 18 were described as having infinite energy and nobody differentiated what they used from ki. So I think they do utilize ki.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

It's quite difficult to say. By all that we've been told of how Ki works in the series and guidebooks, the fully mechanical ones such as #16 and #19 shouldn't. For them, I could chalk up them having similar techniques to Ki blasts as being plasma or some other kind of concentrated thermal energy, with the Ki #19 absorbed being converted into it. For cyborgs likes #17, #18 and #20, it's a lot more arguable considering #18 was able to learn a technique that requires Ki control and training such as the Kienzan. I'd say that elements such as the infinite energy reactor and techniques associated with it such as #17's barrier are something separate from Ki, but those with a human base have the potential to harness Ki with training such as #18 learning the Kienzan or #17's making his Park Ranger GAINZ.

Specifying the difference between regular Ki and what Artificial Humans use would be interesting information. Unfortunately, Toriyama has no interest in exploring his concepts in greater depth.

 

[ahill1]

I'd say that they can use it, but their energy aren't sensible by the other warriors, as noticed by Vegeta when he sened mysterious energies. It's also worth noting that #8, fully mechanical, apparently contributed to the Genki-Dama with his chi. So it seems they can use chi or some energy alike it like pointed out by CC, but the other warriors can't sense it. I'd guess that as a side effect of having their body partially or fully mechanic they can't harness it in a way it can be sensed.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

It's also worth noting that #8, fully mechanical, apparently contributed to the Genki-Dama with his chi.

According to the Daizenshuu, likely to make this more consistent, #8 is of a human base like #17, #18 and Gero.

Daizenshuu 7 entry for #8:
History: Being a human-base, he's a formal human. At Goku's suggestion, he changes his name to Hacchan. He had a self-destruction mechanism equipped inside his body, but it has now been removed, and he lives with the mayor of Jingle Village.

As far as I recall, #8 makes no overt mention of being entirely mechanical in the manga, so this would be a very plausible explanation.

 

[ahill1]

It's also worth noting that #8, fully mechanical, apparently contributed to the Genki-Dama with his chi.

According to the Daizenshuu, likely to make this more consistent, #8 is of a human base like #17, #18 and Gero.

Daizenshuu 7 entry for #8:
History: Being a human-base, he's a formal human. At Goku's suggestion, he changes his name to Hacchan. He had a self-destruction mechanism equipped inside his body, but it has now been removed, and he lives with the mayor of Jingle Village.

As far as I recall, #8 makes no overt mention of being entirely mechanical in the manga, so this would be a very plausible explanation.

That's interesting, but iirc it's pointed out in a cover page from a chapter that #8 is fully mechanical.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

You mean this one?

Despite bothering to categorise the other Artificial Humans, it surprisingly says nothing about #8's construction one way or the other, making his type ambiguous prior to the Daizenshuu entry.

 

[Future Warrior]

For cyborgs likes #17, #18 and #20, it's a lot more arguable considering #18 was able to learn a technique that requires Ki control and training such as the Kienzan. I'd say that elements such as the infinite energy reactor and techniques associated with it such as #17's barrier are something separate from Ki, but those with a human base have the potential to harness Ki with training such as #18 learning the Kienzan or #17's making his Park Ranger GAINZ.

I think it was established that whatever modifications the cyborg-class androids were given were organic in nature.

03 ~ Artificial Human No. 17
A cool-headed artificial human who enjoys battles as if they were games. As the twin brother of No. 18, he places more importance on power. Like No. 18, he is fundamentally human-based and only his organic matter has been restructured. The few mechanical parts that are used were for his emergency deactivation controller and self-destruction device. If the emergency deactivation controller is used on the powerful No. 17 and No. 18, they become unable to move their bodies. As infinite models, No. 17 and No. 18's energy is limitless. Even if they discharge barriers or energy bullets, it isn't depleted.

Bulma mentions this as well. I guess the question is what exactly is the infinite energy generators using? Is it giving them a separate reserve of artificial energy different from their usual ki, or does it just use an endless supply of their already existing ki that somehow can't be sensed?

And as far as anime material is concerned, #17 and #18 get straight up auras in Super and possibly GT.