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Cylons were a race of replicating war machines left over from an ancient lizard-like race extinct centuries ago.  Their immediate apparent goal was to eliminate the universe of all humans.  Distinguishing features include polished chrome, and a single red eye that panned from left to right with quartz precision.  Battlestar Galactica  appeared in the late 70's, with no other show quite like it.  I was even a member of the "Cylon" patrol in Boy Scouts when I was a kid, such was the impact of these robots on youngsters at the time.

Links:
Battlestar Galactica Costume and Prop Museum by Chris Pappas
Cylon Information and faqs