"The Quality of Life" is the 135th episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is the ninth episode of the sixth season. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew of the Federation starship Enterprise-D. In this episode Data discovers that a group of robots are likely intelligent lifeforms. This episode introduces the Exocomp robots. Plot The Enterprise arrives at Tyrus 7A to oversee a fledgling mining technology, a "particle fountain", engineered by Dr. Farallon. While on the planet, the crew observe the use of small machines called Exocomps that Dr. Farallon claims can analyze a problem, replicate the correct tool to repair it, and "learn" this for future situations. During a test, one Exocomp refuses to enter a tunnel; moments later a confined explosion occurs within the tunnel. Dr. Farallon, Lt. Commander Data, and Lt. La Forge investigate the Exocomp, finding several more new electronic pathways in its circuits than they expected. Dr. Farallon, having encountered this before, would normally erase the unit's memory, but Data suggests that the unit may have exhibited self-preservation behavior and wishes to examine it further. Data asserts that if this is true, the Exocomps should no longer be used on the particle fountain, but Dr. Farallon dismisses his claims, and says that any delay will ruin the years of work she has put into the project already. Data tests the Exocomp aboard the Enterprise, instructing it to repair a malfunction in a Jeffries tube, though having jury-rigged a false alarm that would alert the Exocomp to danger. To his disappointment, the Exocomp continues to repair the malfunction through the alarm. However, when Data investigates the unit, he finds that it has repaired not only the malfunction but his false alarm, having sensed it was not in any danger from the test. Data concludes the Exocomps possess self-preservation and are sentient. While Picard and other Enterprise crew are visiting the fountain, a malfunction occurs, threatening to release massive doses of radiation. All but Picard and La Forge are beamed to the Enterprise before the radiation blocks any further attempts. Riker and Dr. Farallon arrange to have the Exocomps beamed into the facility to shield Picard and La Forge long enough to beam them out at the cost of destroying the Exocomps, but Data has locked out the transporter controllers, claiming the