Guardian drones are the simplest model of alien drones, and are equipped with long mechanical arms with which they can perform a swing attack at their enemy.
Support drones rely on melee attacks for defense. It seems likely their primary function is maintenance aboard the alien vessels, unlike their guardian drone counterparts whose primary function fills more of a security role.
If you have the drone control device, support drones can be used as temporary followers, albeit only one at a time.
Like other robots in the Capital Wasteland, they can be deactivated if you have the Robotics Expert perk.
Shooting their hover platforms will temporarily halt their movement.
There are some Drones around the ship which the player can re-activate. They will fight alongside the player if they have the drone control device
Some of these drones, such as some found in the cryo lab, can be found deactivated with several different options (such as making them attack the aliens) when activated.
