Synthetics were first developed by Borgia Industries around 2030. The early Ulysses models were hulking bipedal constructs more closely resembling a mechanical robot than a synthetic human, although they featured a humanoid "driver" at their core. They were widely employed by the Neonopolis Police Department, often used for riot suppression, as well as in private security ventures.

Although combat use was long illegal, the United States Colonial Marine Corps extensively deployed Synthetics with front line units for many years. The USCM viewed them as multi-role team members, often assigning them as drivers, pilots, medics and scientific advisors, as well as taking advantage of their ability to act as mobile databases. Most Synthetics in USCM service appear as mature, average males or females around 40 years of age. Some recent studies have suggested that androids play an important role within small infantry units, both as an impassive neutral party, and as a maternal/paternal influence in nurturing and sustaining the group dynamic at optimum efficiency.

Combat android
Combat androids, as their name implies, are synthetics designed and built specifically for combat purposes. They often lack many of the aesthetic features of commercial models, and instead feature battlefield programming, including weapons handling, and heavy armor.

Synthetic animals have been developed as guards, such as Maggie, a synthetic Doberman working as a guard dog in Greenhouse 112 on LV-492 or as companions, such as Jasper, a synthetic recreation of a deceased brown Cockapoo with the same name.