'The Robots' / 'Die Roboter' was the single preceeding the release of 'Man Machine / 'Die Mensch Maschine' in 1978. The single releases around the world were quite diverse, every local subsidiary of EMI/Capitol creating their own picture sleeve design - and their own edited single versions as well. The english-language single version most often used clocks in at 3.42, to be found on releases from Belgium, England, France, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands and Spain. The US edit, also timed at 3.42, is different (but the single has no sleeve). There is also a longer edit version available from England (4.02, matrix number 'SF 94843-1'). The German-language 'Die Roboter' single edit is unique at 4.20.

Kraftwerk used a remix of 'Die Roboter' / 'The Robots' in 1991 as a single for 'The Mix' album. The main medium for single releases was by now the CD single. Again, English and German-language versions were released, but the edits and mixes were, apart from the language used, the same all over the world. There was a short airplay 'Die Roboter' / 'The Robots' (3.43) and remixes named 'Robotnik' (7.41) and 'Robotronik' (4.51).

EMI UK added a bit more interest to this 1991 release by issuing a second version of the CD, 7" and 12" single sleeve a bit later in the pressing run. The UK cassette single wasn't re-done, though. There are also cassette singles from Australia and the US. 12" singles, all in sleeves using essentially the second UK design, were released in Spain and also the US. The US had two unique formats in a digipack CD single and a promo CD single (with back insert only). EMI-Electrola in Germany issued 7" and 12" (also as a plain-sleeved promo) singles in addition to the CD single. A 7" without a picture sleeve was issued in Australia.