Cyberdyne Systems

File:Cyberdyne Van Ling DVD.jpg

Mid-90's Cyberdyne Systems logo.

The Cyberdyne Systems Corporation is a fictional company depicted in The Terminator films, as well as various novels and comic books all taking place in the Terminator universe.

Timeline

Template:Spoilers As depicted in the films The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Cyberdyne is initially a benign manufacturing corporation in Sunnyvale, California. Its products are unknown, but from the equipment in its factory and its high tech-sounding name, it seems possible that Cyberdyne might have been some sort of smaller, parts producer for larger manufactures of high tech equipment. After a T-800 series Terminator, Cyberdyne Systems Model 101— a cyborg from the future, designed to kill humans — is crushed in one of the company's hydraulic presses, the company secretly begins manufacturing technological devices based on reverse engineering the Terminator's remains. Cyberdyne reverse engineers the recovered CPU from the destroyed cyborg and creates a powerful new microprocessor for weapons systems, becoming a major contractor for the US military.

In the Terminator universe's original timeline, an undisclosed series of events leads to Cyberdyne's development of Skynet, a network of supercomputers that employ artificial intelligence in order to replace human beings as commercial and military aircraft pilots, and for the control of other military systems, including nuclear missiles. The system went online on August 4th, 1997. On August 29, 1997 ("Judgment Day"), Skynet became self aware. In a panic humans attempted to shut it down, and Skynet retaliated by launching a nuclear attack against Russia, knowing that the Russian counterattack would eliminate its enemies in the U.S, initiating an indeterminately long period of global warfare. The battle pitted humans against machines, which developed ever-increasing capabilities.

In Terminator 2: Judgment Day, in an effort to prevent Judgment Day from occurring, Cyberdyne's headquarters is destroyed by a group of saboteurs — the film's main characters: John Connor, future leader of the human resistance, his mother Sarah Connor, and a second T-800 series Terminator that traveled back in time. However, in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, it is revealed that the timeline is only slightly altered: after the destruction of the company's headquarters, Cyberdyne Systems's patents were obtained by the U.S. Government, with another technological corporation Cyber Research Systems. Skynet continues to be developed by the company for the Strategic Air Command-North American Aerospace Defense Command, and ultimately, Judgment Day occurs, just at a later date than it would have originally.

In the original timeline, at some point after Judgment Day, Cyberdyne Systems, under the control of Skynet, creates the T-600, T-800 and T-1000 series of Terminators. In the modified timeline, prior to Judgment Day, humans at Cyber Research Systems create several different series of relatively primitive Terminators to replace U.S. soldiers in field combat. At some point after Judgment Day, Skynet-controlled machines create several more advanced series of Terminators, including the T-800 (although its models would not include the Cyberdyne Systems Model 101, since Cyberdyne Systems was destroyed), the T-850 (which is described in the third film as a T-800 upgrade) and the T-X, also known as the Terminatrix.

Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood have full size Cyberdyne Corporation lobbies for their ride T2 3-D: Battle Across Time where visitors are treated to a PR film by Cyberdyne extolling the virtues of the Skynet system and Cyberdyne's other "security" oriented innovations and are often harassed by an impatient company hostess.

Cyberdyne of Japan

Cyberdyne is also the name of a Japanese company which sells a robot suit called HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb, not related to HAL 9000, though possibly a reference).

Phoenix Visual Arts

Phoenix Visual Arts, formerly Cyberdyne Systems Corporation, won an Emmy Award on September 5, 2001 for Artistic and Graphic Design. The company is based in Denver, Colorado.

• Phoenix Visual Arts Website
• News article regarding the award

External links

• Cyberdyne Systems Filming Location