Robot chessman

Robot chessmen were robots created by the children of Argylus which resembled medieval knights.

In 2266, a landing party from the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) arrived on the surface of Argylus, where they were confronted by the robot knights. Hikaru Sulu compared the situation to being in a chess game, thus naming their foes. When their phasers on stun setting proved ineffective, a higher setting destroyed one, revealing their true nature. However, they were outnumbered and the knights soon captured them, seized their phasers and communicators, and took them to King.