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fire-extinguisher turrets.  [cheap, low-hp, require energy, dont explode when damaged]
should request minimum coding since the fire-detection is already there. and the turret "template" too.

i checked a lot of stuff here and there and i havent been able to find this idea in any other post. so here it is:
pirates/raiders/whatever are able to launch themselves offf a ship. why shouldnt they use the ship as a weapon?
i mean once you are able to make a spaceship, shouldnt be too hard to stick a damn cannon on it, right?
so, without tons of coding we could have enemy spaceships bombarding our colony during or prior the land assault. nothing too complicated, just explosions on the ground (like spawning grenades or explosive charges), thinking very far they could maybe coming with different destructive power/dmg range/accuracy depending on the strength of the attackers and maybe other factors (solar flares? jamming tech? hacking via comm. array?).  colonists could fight this menace by building radar-like structures (advanced warning on size, strength and number of the attacking fleet), jamming antennae or various kinds of anti-spaceship weaponry: turrets, missiles...
the concept can be implemented in a very simple way, and it offers a lot of expansion possibilities.

personally... i dont like the idea of having robots in the game...
they would surely make things easier for the player, but would also take away from the game the "robinson crusoe" feeling that (imho) makes it great.
the possibility of automating a wide range of tasks, primary function of robotics, would probably bring the late-game to a fully automated environment in which colonists can just idle. there would be no need for colonists to cook, haul, build, etc.
the HUGE "storytelling power" of the game would be greatly reduced. there is no good story without good characters, and if characters can be crafted in numbers, repaired and customized they become just items and are no good for the story.

peace and love