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In theStar Wars space opera franchise, adroid is afictionalrobot possessing some degree ofartificial intelligence. The term is aclipped form of "android",[1] a word originally reserved for robots designed to look and act like a human.[2] The word "android" itself stems from the New Latin word "androīdēs", meaning "manlike", itself from the Ancient Greekἀνδρος (andrós) (genitive ofἀνήρ (anḗr), "man (adult male)" or "human being") +-ειδής (-eidḗs), itself fromεἶδος (eîdos, "form, image, shape, appearance, look").[3]
Writer and directorGeorge Lucas first used the term "droid" in the second draft script ofStar Wars, completed 28 January 1975.[4] However, the word does have a precedent: science fiction writer Mari Wolf used the word in her story "Robots of the World! Arise!" in 1952. It is not known if Lucas knew of this reference when he wroteStar Wars, or if he came up with the term independently.[5]
The word "droid" has been a registeredtrademark ofLucasfilm Ltd since 1977.[6][7][8][9]
Droids are performed using a variety of methods, including robotics, actors inside costumes (in one case, on stilts),[10] and computer animation.
Lucasfilm registered "droid" as a trademark in 1977.[6][7][9] The term "Droid" has been used byVerizon Wireless under licence from Lucasfilm, for their line ofsmartphones based on theAndroid operating system. Motorola's late-2009 Google Android-based cell phone is called theDroid. This line of phone has been expanded to include other Android-based phones released under Verizon, including theHTC Droid Eris, the HTCDroid Incredible,Motorola Droid X,Motorola Droid 2, andMotorola Droid Pro.[11] The term was also used for the Lucasfilm projectsEditDroid, anon-linear editing system, andSoundDroid, an early digital audio workstation. The name "Omnidroid" was used with permission of Lucasfilm for the 2004Pixar movie,The Incredibles, referring to a line of lethal robots built by the film's antagonist.[12]
The franchise, which began with the 1977 filmStar Wars, features a variety of droids designed to perform specific functions. According to background material, most droids lack truesentience and are given processing abilities sufficient only to carry out their assigned function. However, over time droids may develop sentience on their own as they accumulate experience. Periodic memory wipes can prevent this from happening, but those who manage to escape this fate will begin to develop their own personalities.[13]
Within theStar Wars universe, a class system is used to categorize different droids depending on their skill-set: first class droids (physical, mathematical and medical sciences), second class droids (engineering and technical sciences), third class droids (social sciences and service functions), fourth class droids (security and military functions), and fifth class droids (menial labor and other non-intelligence functions).[14]
Aprotocol droid specializes intranslation,etiquette andcultural customs, and is typically humanoid in appearance.[15] Protocol droids are used to aid in communications during diplomatic or business negotiations and often function as personal assistants to their owners. Protocol droids are also used for military service, whether as administrators, couriers or spies. However, they do have a tendency to be eccentric and fussy.[16][17][18]
The most notable example isC-3PO, introduced inStar Wars and featured in all sequels and prequels.[19]4-LOM is a protocol droid turned bounty hunter who responds toDarth Vader's call to capture theMillennium Falcon inThe Empire Strikes Back (1980).[20][21] TC-14 is a droid with feminine programming that appears inStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999),[22] andME-8D9 is an "ancient protocol droid of unknown manufacture" that resides and works as a translator atMaz Kanata's castle onTakodana inStar Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).[23]
An astromech droid is one of a series of "versatile utility robots generally used for the maintenance and repair ofstarships and related technology".[24] These small droids usually possess "a variety of tool-tipped appendages that are stowed in recessed compartments".[24] On certain spacecraft such asX-wing starfighters, astromech droids also double as the ship's navigational system. In addition to assisting with piloting and maintenance, astromech droids work in conjunction with the ship'shyperdrive to plot a safe course when traveling atfaster-than-light speeds.[18][25]
R2-D2 is an astromech droid introduced in 1977'sStar Wars and featured in all subsequent films.[26] The malfunctioning droidR5-D4 also makes a brief appearance inStar Wars.[27]U9-C4 is a timid droid sent on a mission with D-Squad, an all-droid special unit inStar Wars: The Clone Wars,[28]C1-10P (nicknamed "Chopper") is an oft-repaired, "outmoded" astromech who is one of the main characters ofStar Wars Rebels,[29] andBB-8 is the astromech droid ofX-wing fighter pilotPoe Dameron inThe Force Awakens.[30]
A battle droid is a class ofwar robot used as an easily controlled alternative to human soldiers, most notably seen in theStar Wars prequel trilogy of films and theStar Wars: The Clone Wars TV series, in which 'B1' and 'B2' models are frequent antagonists. Due to their ubiquity, the terms 'B1' and 'battle droid' are used interchangeably; 'B2' models are also referred to as 'super' battle droids.[31][32] These droids are mainly used as the primary troops of theConfederacy of Independent Systems or Separatist Alliance, acting as the counterpart to theclone troopers of theGalactic Republic during theClone Wars.
The tall, thin B1 model resembles theGeonosian species, whose Baktoid Armor Workshop designed and built the droids for theTrade Federation and later the Separatists. Standing 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) tall, B1 battle droids were given a humanoid appearance so they could operate existing machinery and weaponry, and are meant to be cheaply mass-produced in large numbers. During theBattle of Naboo, battle droids were controlled from a central command computer as a cost-saving measure. By the time of the Clone Wars, this drawback was rectified by giving them the capacity for limited independent thought called free thinkers.[33][34][35][36] The B2 super battle droid, introduced in theBattle of Geonosis, was designed by the Techno Union and manufactured by Baktoid as an improvement of the original B1 model. Heavily armored and capable of limited independent thought, it features an integrated dual laser cannon in its right arm.[37][38]
B1 battle droids have been criticized for being ineffective and boring opponents in theStar Wars films, easily destroyed and devoid of any personality. However, Rafael Motamayor ofSyFy Wire argues that the2008Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series rehabilitated their image by giving them distinct personalities. With the in-universe explanation that battle droids were upgraded to have independent thought, battle droids in the series are shown with self-awareness of theircannon fodder nature. This is often used as comic relief as battle droids comment on their tragic situation and even question orders that would get themselves or other battle droids killed.[39]
Beyond the B1 and B2 models, multiple other types of specialized battle droids have been featured in theStar Wars fictional universe.[34][40] The droideka is a three-leggedheavy infantry unit designed by the Colicoids, a bloodthirsty insect-like species which it resembles. It is equipped with twin blasters and adeflector shield generator and can transform into its wheel form, allowing the droideka to roll towards the enemy at speeds of up to 75 km/h (47 mph).[41][42][43]Commando droids are superior versions of the B1 battle droid, built sturdier with armor to withstand blaster fire and moreadvanced combat programming and battlefield awareness.[44] The T-series tactical droids serve as advisors to Separatist commanders or command groups of other battle droids, while super tactical droids serve as generals of droid armies and fleets.[45] Droid vehicles and spacecraft includeVulture droids,Dwarf spider droids andHailfire droids. After the Clone Wars, the Imperial Senate banned the manufacture of battle droids, but with loopholes for the building of "security" droids and experimental combat droids. This includes the Imperial military's KX-series of whichK-2SO is an example,[17] as well asMoff Gideon's pure-droid heavy-duty Dark Troopers.[46]
Probe droids are deployed by the Empire inThe Empire Strikes Back to search for hidden rebel bases. They are described as traveling viahyperdrive-equipped pods to almost anywhere in the galaxy in order to search for their target. Also called probots, they are 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height, floating above the ground onrepulsorlifts and propelled by silenced thrusters. Probots are equipped with a variety of sensing equipment, includingmotion detectors andultraviolet sensors, ablaster for self-defense, and a HoloNet transceiver to transmit any discoveries to Imperial forces.[17][47]
During the production ofThe Empire Strikes Back,Joe Johnston drew storyboard panels influenced byDan O'Bannon andMoebius's short comic "The Long Tomorrow" (1975), one of which repurposes a pose Johnston admitted he borrowed from said work.[48] The same panel of the comic features a robot design by Moebius, which may have been the basis of the probe droid (or "probot") design that concept designers Johnston andRalph McQuarrie created for the film.[49]
Labor droids are used for a variety of tasks, from the very simple such as lifting heavy objects to the complex such as repairing machinery or administrating entire facilities, though their programming is very task-specific. Examples include mining droids which extract valuable resources, often from hazardous environments, and power droids, mobilefusion reactors which recharge ships, machines and other droids.[50] Interrogation droids utilize a variety of devices, chemicals and techniques to exploit a prisoner's weaknesses in order to extract information from them.[51][52] Assassin droids such as the IG-series act with ruthless efficiency to hunt down their targets; while some serve other masters, others may operate independently.[51][53] Medical droids on the other hand work tirelessly to heal people who have been harmed, whether as medical assistants,midwives or doctors. Many possess an encyclopedic knowledge of different species'physiologies so that patients can be properly diagnosed and treated.[54][55]
| Name | Portrayal | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2-1B | Voice:Denny Delk (The Empire Strikes Back)[56] | Medical droid inThe Empire Strikes Back that tends to Luke Skywalker in the bacta tank after theWampa attack onHoth, and replaces Luke's hand.[57] A 2-1B droid also serves as medical droid toAnakin Skywalker inRevenge of the Sith, and can be seen in theStar Wars Rebels animated series.[58] |
| 4-LOM | Chris Parsons (The Empire Strikes Back) | Protocol droid with insectoid features,4-LOM is among the Bounty Hunters who answerDarth Vader's call to capture theMillennium Falcon inThe Empire Strikes Back.[59] In theLegends continuity it isJabba the Hutt that upgrades 4-LOM's programming, turning him into a full-fledged bounty hunter, and partners him with fellow bounty hunterZuckuss.[60] Teaming up for many years, 4-LOM and Zuckuss join the Rebel Alliance for a time, even having aspirations of masteringthe Force.[61] 4-LOM would lose these aspirations and affiliations after being badly damaged byBoba Fett and having his memory erased, restoring him to a cold calculating bounty hunter.[60][62] The first 4-LOM action figure was misidentified as "Zuckuss" inKenner's originalStar Wars action figure line.[63] |
| 8D8 | Various puppeteers (Return of the Jedi) Voice:Matt Berry (The Book of Boba Fett) | Torture droid working for Jabba the Hutt inReturn of the Jedi, and later worked for Boba Fett when the latter ascended to power.[59][64] AKenner action figure was created for this droid during their originalReturn of the Jedi line.[65] |
| 0-0-0 (a.k.a. Triple-Zero) | — | Protocol droid designed to specialize in etiquette, customs, translation and torture. Structurally similar toC-3PO. An associate ofDoctor Aphra andBT-1, the droid is first featured in theMarvel Comics seriesStar Wars: Darth Vader and is now heavily featured in the ongoingDoctor Aphra series.[66] |
| AP-5 | Voice:Stephen Stanton (Rebels) | An RA-7 protocol droid from the Clone Wars, serving with the Galactic Republic as a navigator; later tasked with inventory duties by the Empire, before C1-10P/Chopper encounters him in theRebels episode "The Forgotten Droid". Acts as a C-3PO-like counterpart to Chopper in Rebel service, and assists Phoenix Squadron in finding a new base on Atollon, before The Bendu forces both Rebels and Imperials off Atollon in the episode "Zero Hour".[67] |
| AZI-3 | Voice:Ben Diskin (The Clone Wars,The Bad Batch) | Medical droid serving the cloners ofKamino who helps uncover the secret ofOrder 66 inThe Clone Wars.[68] |
| Mister Bones | — | RebuiltB1 battle droid introduced inAftermath, serves as loyal—if homicidal—bodyguard toTemmin "Snap" Wexley.[69][70] In the comicPoe Dameron #13, Snap carries Mister Bones' "personality template" with him for good luck, and temporarily loads it into another droid to protectPoe Dameron.[71] |
| BB-8 | Dave Chapman and Brian Herring(puppeteers) (Episodes VII-IX) Voice:Bill Hader andBen Schwartz(consultants) (Episodes VII-IX) | Poe Dameron's astromech droid in the sequel trilogy. BB-8 has a spherical body with a small head that balances on top, and moves by rolling around. |
| BB-9E | Voice:Ken Watanabe (The Last Jedi) | Black plated BB-series astromech droid in the service of the First Order inThe Last Jedi. |
| BD-1 | Voice:Ben Burtt (Jedi: Fallen Order) | Small droid formerly in the possession of Jedi Master Eno Cordova, who encounters and befriends Cal Kestis on the planet Bogano. After revealing a message from Cordova about a Jedi Holocron containing a list of Force-sensitive children, BD-1 joins Cal in his quest to find the Holocron and hopefully restore the Jedi Order, becoming a member of theStinger Mantis crew. |
| B2EMO (a.k.a Bee-Two or Bee) | Voice:Dave Chapman (Andor) | Maarva Andor's loyal droid. Bee experiences malfunctions such as vocal stuttering and data lags. A groundmech salvage assist unit that served the Andor family for years includingCassian Andor. |
| BT-1 (a.k.a. Bee-Tee) | — | Blastomech droid, an assassin droid designed to look like anAstromech droid with a variety of hidden built-in assault weapons. An associate of Doctor Aphra and 0-0-0, the droid is first featured in the Marvel comic seriesStar Wars: Darth Vader and is now heavily featured in the ongoingDoctor Aphra series.[66] |
| C1-10P (a.k.a. "Chopper") | Voice:Dave Filoni (Rebels,Forces of Destiny,Ahsoka) | Astromech droid with a cantankerous, "pranking" form of behavior aboard the rebel freighterGhost inStar Wars Rebels.[59][73] Chopper later reappears inRogue One in the Great Temple of Masassi on Yavin 4, and so does theGhost itself and Hera Syndulla (who is mentioned only as a General of the Rebellion).[72] Chopper appears in live action inAhsoka.[74] |
| C-3PO | Anthony Daniels (Episodes I-IX,Rogue One, Obi-Wan Kenobi,Ahsoka) Voice: Anthony Daniels (The Clone Wars,Rebels,Forces of Destiny,Resistance) | Protocol droid created by Anakin Skywalker who appears in all nine mainStar Wars films andRogue One.[59][75] |
| CH-33P | Voice: Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars) | C1-series astromech droid that helpsAhsoka Tano when Order 66 is issued inThe Clone Wars. He is destroyed by clone troopers looking to execute Ahsoka. |
| D-O | Voice:J. J. Abrams (The Rise of Skywalker) | Small droid previously owned by the Sith mercenary Ochi, who is found and reactivated by BB-8 in his old ship. He is shown to be very excitable and follows BB-8 wherever he goes, wanting to be just like him. He can also speak, although very briefly and stammering. |
| EV-9D9 | Voice:Richard Marquand (Return of the Jedi),Mark Hamill (The Mandalorian) | Torture droid working in Jabba the Hutt's palace inReturn of the Jedi, that assigns roles for R2-D2 and C-3PO during their brief tenure under Jabba's ownership.[59] |
| FX-7 | — | Medical droid assistant to 2-1B on Hoth.[59] An FX-7 figure was produced for Kenner'sEmpire Strikes Back action figure line in 1980.[76] |
| GA-97 | Voice:David Acord (The Force Awakens) | Servant droid at the castle ofMaz Kanata, aligned with the Resistance, that informs them of the missing BB-8's presence at the castle, allowing them to mobilize their forces. |
| G-G | — | R4 astromech droid that helps Ahsoka Tano when Order 66 is issued inThe Clone Wars. He is destroyed by clone troopers looking to execute Ahsoka. |
| Gonk droid (a.k.a. GNK power droid) | Rusty Goffe, Latin Lahr, Jack Purvis,Kenny Baker,Kiran Shah, Raymond Griffiths, Arti Shah, Ivan Manzella Voice:Ben Burtt | Boxy, rectangular-shaped droid that walks very slowly. It is literally a bipedal, walking power generator. After appearing in theJawas' sandcrawler in the original 1977Star Wars film,[59] a "Power Droid" figure was produced for Kenner'sStar Wars action figure line in 1978.[77] A Gonk droid is also featured in the "Blood Sisters" episode ofRebels, andRogue One.[78] other appearances of the droid include in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V),Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Episode VI),Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (Episode I),Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (Episode II), and in Star Wars: The Bad Batch, in which the droid was affectionately nicknamed "Gonky". |
| HK-47 | Kristoffer Tabori | Within theStar Wars Legends continuity,HK-47 is a humanoid soldier robot, designed as a violent killer, which first appeared in the 2003video gameStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.[79] |
| Huyang | Voice:David Tennant (The Clone Wars,Ahsoka,Young Jedi Adventures) | Huyang is an ancient droid who for millennia oversaw Padawan training of lightsaber construction for the Jedi Order. |
| IG-11 | Voice:Taika Waititi (The Mandalorian) | Bounty hunter and assassin droid who briefly teams up withthe Mandalorian to find and killthe Child. However, he is then betrayed and destroyed by the Mandalorian, who wanted to retrieve the Child alive. He is later rebuilt and reprogrammed byKuiil to serve as an ally of the Mandalorian. During the group's fight withMoff Gideon's Imperial Remnant, IG-11 looks after the Child and later treats the Mandalorian when he is injured, before sacrificing himself and activating his self-destruct mechanism to allow the others to escape. |
| IG-88B | Voice:Matthew Wood (Forces of Destiny) | Bounty hunter and assassin droid introduced inThe Empire Strikes Back, summoned aboard theExecutor by Darth Vader in his search for theMillennium Falcon.[59] IG-88 also appears in theForces of Destiny animated series, attempting to capture Leia Organa and Sabine Wren. In theLegends continuity, there are four IG-88 assassin droids created for Project Phlutdroid by Holowan Laboratories, designated A, B, C and D. IG-88B and C are destroyed by Boba Fett shortly after Vader's bounty on theMillennium Falcon, while D was destroyed byLegends characterDash Rendar on Ord Mantell.[80] The last surviving model, IG-88A, uploads his consciousness into the second Death Star in an attempt to take over all droids in the galaxy, just prior to the Battle of Endor.[81]Ralph McQuarrie's production sketches show a sleeker design than the droid that appears inThe Empire Strikes Back and were later used as the model for the IG-RM Thug droids inStar Wars Rebels.[82] The term "IG-88" is not the original name for the character, as theEmpire Strikes Back script calls the character a "chrome war droid", and during production it was called "Phlutdroid". The production puppet consisted of recycled props fromA New Hope, including the Mos Eisley cantina drink dispenser as IG-88's head.[83] |
| General Kalani | Voice:Gregg Berger (The Clone Wars,Rebels) | A Separatist tactical droid who served in theClone Wars. He led his forces to take over and occupy the planet Onderon. His forces clashed with a band of rebels trained by some Jedi and led bySaw Gerrera to free the planet from Separatist control. Unable to thwart the uprising, Kalani and the remnants of his forces evacuated to the planet of Agamar. He and his troops managed to survive and hide there, resisting a shutdown order issued to the entire droid army after the Clone Wars ended. Kalani later encounteredCaptain Rex,Ezra Bridger,Kanan Jarrus andZeb Orrelios, who visited the planet for battle supplies, and after a battle with them, ultimately chose to help them fend off the oppressive Galactic Empire. However, he declined to join the rebellion because he believed the odds of their cause seemed too great. |
| K-2SO | Alan Tudyk (Rogue One,Andor)[84] | Imperial security droid stolen and reprogrammed by the Alliance inRogue One. His appearance makes him useful when infiltrating Imperial installations and outposts, but as a result of his reprogramming, he has a tendency to speak his thoughts bluntly and tactlessly.[59][85] He is destroyed by stormtroopers whilst protectingJyn Erso andCassian Andor during the Rebel Alliance's raid on the Imperial data storage facility atScarif to steal the Death Star schematics. |
| L0-LA59 | Droid companion to a youngPrincess Leia inObi-Wan Kenobi.[86] | |
| L3-37 | Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Solo: A Star Wars Story) | Trusted right-hand female pilot droid ofLando Calrissian, and the original co-pilot of theMillennium Falcon, L3-37 is a no-nonsenserobot revolutionary who frees the droids in the spice mines of Kessel. On one occasion, when Lando asks if she needs anything from outside the cockpit, she quips "equal rights".[87] |
| ME-8D9 | — | An "ancient protocol droid of unknown manufacture" that resides and works as a translator at Maz Kanata's castle onTakodana inThe Force Awakens (2015).[88] |
| NED-B | Dustin Ceithamer (Obi-Wan Kenobi)[89] | Silent loader droid working with Imperial defector Tala Durith inObi-Wan Kenobi.[90][better source needed] |
| OOM-9 | — | Commandbattle droid that led the Trade Federation's droid army during the invasion of Naboo inThe Phantom Menace. During the invasion, he is promoted from captain to commander and serves underNute Gunray,Darth Maul andDarth Sidious as their primary contact with the battle droid ground forces. His capture of Naboo's capital city of Theed and the underwater Gungan capital of Otoh Gunga are successful, which earns the praises of Nute Gunray. Eventually, OOM-9 leads the battle droids against the Gungan Grand Army, who are soon defeated by his forces but are ultimately freed in the end whenAnakin Skywalker destroys the droid central control computer operating from the Trade Federation battleship. |
| PZ-4CO | — | Droid introduced in the 2015 young adult novelMoving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure byCecil Castellucci andJason Fry to whom Leia Organa dictates her memoirs.[91][92] PZ-4CO also appears inThe Force Awakens.[93] |
| Q9-0 (aka "Zero") | Voice:Richard Ayoade (The Mandalorian) | Droid member ofRanzar Malk's crew, who attempts to release one of their associates,Qin, from a New Republic transport with the help of the Mandalorian. The crew secretly planned to abandon the Mandalorian once they released Qin, but he had anticipated their betrayal and leaves all of them behind on the transport, with the exception of Q9-0, who was left aboard the Mandalorian's ship, theRazor Crest; he was instead shot and destroyed by the Mandalorian after trying to kill the Child. |
| R1-J5 | Voice: Justin Ridge (Star Wars Resistance) | Nicknamed "Bucket", is an R-series astromech droid owned by Jarek Yeager, the former Rebellion pilot. R1-J5 raced with Yeager, serving as his co-pilot before the pair retired to the Colossus refueling platform and began Jarek Yeager's Repair Station and formed Team Fireball. |
| R2-D2 | Kenny Baker (Episodes I–VI,VII; consultant) Jimmy Vee (Episodes VII–IX,Rogue One) Unknown (The Mandalorian,The Book of Boba Fett,Obi-Wan Kenobi) | Loyal R2 astromech droid that becomes attached to various characters throughout the continuity of the Skywalker Saga, notably accompanying three generations: Anakin and Luke Skywalker, and Rey Palpatine.[59] R2 was also known for his companionship with the protocol droid C-3PO. |
| R2-KT | — | Pink R2 astromech droid (identical to a R2-D2 but with pink accents instead of blue) that first appears inThe Clone Wars and then briefly in scenes at the Resistance base inThe Force Awakens. The droid is also a playable character in the video gameLego Star Wars: The Force Awakens. R2-KT was named in honor of seven year oldStar Wars fan and cancer patient Katie Johnston.[94] |
| R3-S6 | — | Replacement astromech droid for Anakin when R2 is lost inThe Clone Wars. He is later revealed to be working as a spy for General Grievous, and subsequently destroyed by R2-D2 himself. |
| R4-P17 | — | Nicknamed "Arfour", this astromech droid accompaniesObi-Wan Kenobi on his mission to Kamino inAttack of the Clones, and is assigned to Kenobi throughout much of the Clone Wars (appearing in several episodes ofThe Clone Wars series). R4 is decapitated by Buzz Droids inRevenge of the Sith, and is replaced by R4-G9. |
| R5-D4 | — | Astromech droid originally sold to Owen Lars on Tatooine inA New Hope which immediately malfunctions and is replaced by R2-D2.[59][95] The droid is currently owned byDin Djarin in hopes of exploring Mandalore. This droid also received an action figure release during the second wave of Kenner's originalStar Wars action figure line. |
| R7-A7 | — | Astromech droid owned by Ahsoka Tano inThe Clone Wars. When Order 66 is issued, he helps out Ahsoka, but is destroyed by clone troopers looking to execute her. |
| RA-7 ("Death Star droid") | — | Originally appearing in the 1977 filmStar Wars, these protocol droids are primarily used by Imperial officers as servants. They are also known as "Insect droids" or '"Death Star droids", due to the large numbers used aboard the Death Star. An RA-7 droid dubbed "Death Star Droid", was produced for Kenner'sStar Wars action figure line in 1978.[96] The RA-7 type droid named AP-5[67] has a recurring role inStar Wars Rebels, assisting Hera Syndulla's Phoenix Squadron. |
| SM-33 | Voice:Nick Frost (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew) | Nicknamed "Thirty-Three," is a droid pirate who served as First Mate of the starship Onyx Cinder. At some point the Onyx Cinder became buried in a forest on At Attin and by the early New Republic Era. In 9 ABY, a youngling called Wim discovered the Onyx Cinder and, together with three children called Neel, Fern and KB, investigated the ship but they accidentally activated it and flew to another planet. The group of kids then forged an alliance with SM-33 and a force-sensitive man called Jod Na Nawood to find back home and avoid a band of pirates. |
| TC-14 | John Fensom (The Phantom Menace) Voice:Lindsay Duncan (The Phantom Menace) | Protocol droid who appears in the beginning ofThe Phantom Menace, serving drinks to Obi-Wan Kenobi andQui-Gon Jinn aboard the Trade Federation's flagshipSaak'ak.[97] |
| Todo 360 | Voice:Seth Green (The Clone Wars,The Bad Batch) | Cad Bane's techno-service droid inThe Clone Wars andThe Bad Batch. |
| U9-C4 | — | Timid astromech droid sent on a mission with D-Squad, an all-droid special unit inThe Clone Wars.[98] |
| WAC-47 | Voice:Ben Diskin (The Clone Wars) | Over-excitable "pit droid" that is assigned to a special Republic group of droids, D-Squad, to steal an encryption module from the Separatists inThe Clone Wars.[99] |
Many film scholars link the portrayal of droids inStar Wars to racial or class politics, technophobia, or sexual and reproductive anxieties. Dan Rubey, for example, sees the original film as establishing a "race hierarchy" with droids on the bottom rung.[100] J. P. Telotte sees the droids as part of a human-over-nonhuman and living-over-nonliving hierarchy in the film, describing them as "essentially slaves to a superior mankind, embodying a romantic dream of obedience and dogged faithfulness to a master."[101] Diana Sandars follows a similar vein, seeing droids as a negative counterpoint to humanity, epitomized inDarth Vader's mechanical body, having "vanquished his human nobility."[102] Writing before the release of the prequels, in which Obi-Wan Kenobi's relationship to droids differed from the original trilogy, Lane Roth instead saw the droids as a means of establishing the moral standing of human characters, with "sympathetic" characters like Obi-Wan treating them kindly (calling R2-D2 "my little friend" and listing the droids as passengers, not cargo) and initially "unsympathetic" ones, likeHan Solo and the Tattooine Bartender, neglecting or abusing them.[103] Cyrus Patell reads them similarly, referring to the droids as both "an ethical index" and a manifestation of technophobia.[104] Meanwhile, Nicholas Wanberg sees the portrayal of droid characters, especially through the prequel films, as playing on racialized sexual and reproductive anxieties through contrasting origin settings between more or less "White" droids, different mind-body relationships, and reenactments of swamping fears.[105]
