You've got me digging through my VHS collection. Don't think it's Manimal as that's animal transformation stuff. The Powers of Matthew Star? Had a protector figure, but he's not really robot-y. I’m stumped, but now I wanna find it too!

Sounds a bit like 'The Edison Twins' but no actual robot, just plenty of inventions. Would also guess at 'Out of This World', though that’s stretching it since she ‘talks’ to her dad via a crystal cube, not really a robot. This is tough!

lol maybe its a fever dream? 80s were wild. Try watching less TV before bed.

Hmm, boxy robot with lights? Good chance you’re thinking of Starman. It was a short-lived series where the alien Starman has a spherical robot helper. Not super obscure but def not as mainstream as Knight Rider or Buck Rogers!

D.A.R.Y.L. had a robot kid, not buddy, but fits the 80’s sci-fi vibe. Meanwhile, Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince is a forgotten one where a robot companions an alien prince on Earth. Zax was a floating toaster though. Ring any bells?

Could it be 'Whiz Kids'? Not exactly a robot sidekick show, but they had a computer and it was all techy and stuff. Maybe you're blending memories?

First time posting but was it something like ‘Automan’? There was a hologram dude and his cursor sidekick that became stuff like cars and planes. Idk if cursor counts as a robot though.