Do we have control of them "forming their own opinions and ideas about the universe"? Do we have control of them "ignoring the instructions"? It doesn't seem like we have control of anything.
We give them free will. They can accept the copy of the perfect chip and get to Earth or they can concoct their own, or carry on passing down currupted chips, until eventually by chance or realisation they come upon the truth.(we have control over the planets weather/tidal and land systems also)
btw..through the planets histor we have realised that there are have been many varied bots grouped together and catered for their differences by sending different but still truthful chips/programs via saviourbots/prophetbots etc.....explained mathmatecally as two sums... 19+7=26 or 12x2+2=26...both different but giving the same answer.