While inspecting a new mining technique, the crew comes across a new invention known as exocomps, designed to perform maintenance tasks at the station. Data thinks they may be alive.

In fact, Data believes this to the point that he locks out the transporters to protect them, even though Picard and Geordi are trapped in an irradiated mining facility. Yeah, this is where Peanut Hamper comes from.

I summarize the plot and point out and explain all the references so you don’t have to