How would they not find it (a droid with a mind like R2) useful. Or even minds similar to some battle or warrior droids in Star Wars. Don't they have bounty hunter droids in Star Wars and also armies of droids. I just don't understand why the federation cannot or does not make android soldiers. They should be able to perform much better than nearly any humanoid could hope to perform in close combat. The Star Wars creators of droids did build droids for combat. The main problem was that they were relatively easy (at least the normal battle droid was) to defeat in combat. But if one gave the durable body of an android to the makers of battle droids I do not think they would have much of a problem creating a droid of high durability that could engage in combat regularly on the battle field as a soldier.
Many races in Star Trek employ drone/droid technology. The Romulans employed a semi-autonomous drone ship back during ENT, there are various small utility robots that can be programmed and such. In TNG, the episode "Quality of Life" showed that it is perfectly within their capabilities to create sophisticated droids. Exocomps were problem-solving utility robots, able to adapt and affect repairs faster than any human could. The main problem here is that Federation computer technology is so advanced that anytime they build something that can adapt its own programming, it inevitably becomes sentient down the road. Even the Enterprise's main computer can create a sentient being if asked to. The Federation has a really bad track record with automation. Either it's too fragile, or too impractical. Or it's far too stupid to use practically... or it's too smart that it is unethical to send it into battle. In "Measure of a Man", Commander Maddox wanted to "create an army of Datas". Undoubtedly they would be unstoppable, but it was determined unethical to exploit Data like that. The difference between Droids in Star Wars and Androids in Star Trek is that the former is stupid. They follow rigid programming that doesn't allow for improvisation. That's why they're so ineffective in combat unless in large numbers. Star Trek Androids can adapt, they're much more capable, and can even innovate! But they're people.
Bleachsoul13 The regular battle droids in Star Wars are only good in numbers, but they were able to build others like the Destroyer Droids which proved strong enough to cause two powerful force users to retreat in Star Wars Episode I. These androids according to Idazmi7 are stronger, faster, and more durable than the droids in star wars. All they would need to do is make a android as competent as a regular battle droid in star wars (which Idazmi7 said they could do easily) and they would have a soldier superior to almost anything anyone else could make. Repeating the process would make for an almost unstoppable ground force compared to others.
CaptainMarvelThunder They could, it is within their capabilities, but as I said, the Federation has a bad track record with automation. Enough so that they avoid it whenever possible. I mean, look at eugenics. Eugenics can create superhumans, but genetic engineering is outlawed in the Federation, all because they are wary of it.
