Thespace-opera blockbuster,Star Wars franchise has borrowed many real-life scientific and technological concepts in its settings. In turn,Star Wars has depicted, inspired, and influenced several futuristic technologies, some of which are in existence and others under development. In the introduction of theReturn of the Jedi novelization,George Lucas wrote: "Star Wars is also very much concerned with the tension between humanity and technology, an issue which, for me, dates back even to my first films. InJedi, the theme remains the same, as the simplest of natural forces brought down the seemingly invincible weapons of the evil Empire."
While many of these technologies are in existence and in use today, they are not nearly as complex as seen inStar Wars. Some of these technologies are not considered possible at present. Nevertheless, many of the technologies depicted byStar Wars parallel modern real-life technologies and concepts, though some have significant differences.
Star Wars also depicts the practice of cloning and genetic engineering, though far more advanced and sophisticated than modern scientific and technological standards. Cloning inStar Wars was first mentioned in theoriginal 1977Star Wars film (A New Hope) andits novelization. It was first seen on film inStar Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002).
There are major differences between the current ability to clone humans and those seen inStar Wars. Current human cloning methods need to use thesomatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), which requires an unfertilized egg from a female donor to have its nucleus removed, resulting in an enucleated egg.DNA from the subject being cloned would need to be extracted and electronically fused together with the enucleated egg. A surrogate mother needs to be impregnated with the embryos to give birth to the clone.[1]
Cloning inStar Wars does not seem to use this process, and instead depicts advanced machinery that directly processes the human subject's DNA, and produces the clone or clones, by the thousands, if desired. The clones inStar Wars can also be genetically altered during their pre-birth phase to have their growth hormones and learning abilities accelerated, as well as their independence and self-consciousness restricted.[2]
According toJeanne Cavelos, ascience-fiction writer and former NASAastrophysicist, who is also author of the bookThe Science of Star Wars, all of this is a future possibility with the progress of science and technology. What isnot possible, according to her, is the ability to accelerate either the growth of clones, or their ability to learn faster.[3]
Submersion in a liquid called bacta causes mutilated flesh to regenerate in theStar Wars universe. According to an in-universe reference book, bacta is a blue-huedchemical compound; it must be mixed with a synthetic liquid which mimics bodily fluids. The combined bacterial medium regenerates traumatized flesh and promotestissue growth.[4] Luke Skywalker was first seen using a bacta tank inThe Empire Strikes Back; his father Darth Vader has a similar tank inRogue One.[5] Clone troopers also use such healing technology inThe Clone Wars. Bacta can also be administered in a spray form.[6]
InStar Wars, prosthetics are first seen on film towards the end ofStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. The prosthetic limbs seen in the films bear an almost absolute resemblance to natural limbs, in terms of size, shape, and movement. The only distinction is the material that the prosthetic limbs are made of, which differs greatly from theorganic material of the natural limbs and other organs that the prosthetic limbs replace. Such precision is not considered possible by current technological means. However, according to recent research and development conducted at theCase Western University, which produced prosthetic limbs similar to the ones seen inStar Wars, the ability for prosthetics to produce feeling has become closer to reality.[7]
A similar production, even closer to natural organic limbs, known as the DEKA Arm System and dubbed "The Luke", after Luke Skywalker's prosthetic arm, was approved for mass production by theUS Food and Drug Administration after eight years of testing and development.[citation needed]
More recently, scientists have begun to develop artificial skin jackets to cover prosthetic limbs, creating an effect similar to what is seen in theStar Wars films.[8]
Body armor is seen throughout theStar Wars films, television shows and other media. Their main purpose is to protect the wearer from attacks and other hazards as in ancient and current times on Earth. They are most commonly seen onImperial stormtroopers,clone troopers,bounty hunters and others, providing various levels of protection and other functions. According toStar Wars lore, the armor worn by stormtroopers is generally impervious to projectile weapons and blast shrapnel and can deflect a glancing blow from ablaster but will be punctured by a direct hit. Meanwhile, the traditional armor worn byMandalorians, made from the fictional material known as beskar, is capable of repelling alightsaber;[9] though by the time the films take place in, most sets only had small amounts of beskar, which was alloyed with other metals. This was because most of the beskar in Mandalore's crust had mined out millennia prior.
Major characters in theStar Wars franchise are also known for wearing body armor. The bounty hunterBoba Fett wore modified body armor fitted with various gadgets like his predecessor,Jango Fett. This armor has multi-purpose tactical abilities along with many scrapes and dents which Fett wears with pride.[10]Darth Vader wears an armored suit which protects him in combat as well as provides life-support functions for his badly burned body.[11]
Such type of armor has slowly begun to become a scientific reality. In 2016, ballistic and body armor company, AR500, in collaboration withHeckler & Koch produced body armor modelled after the iconic villain, Boba Fett.[12][13][14]
Carbonite freezing inStar Wars is first seen in the filmThe Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader placesHan Solo in a carbonite casing to be delivered to Jabba the Hutt. The reverse process is seen inReturn of the Jedi, where he is unfrozen. The technology also appears inThe Mandalorian.
Carbonite freezing is based on the concept ofcryonics, which involves freezing a living organism to keep it insuspended animation. The technology is still being researched and developed by scientists into a more sophisticated form. Carbonite exists in real life as a type ofgunpowder. According to professor James H. Fallon, the carbonite used inStar Wars might be a "dry ice" with an opposite charge. He further speculates that it is a form of carbon dioxide mineral, which, like in cryonics, is kept at very low temperatures, to the point that there is no need for oxygen or blood-flow. This could keep living organisms and living tissue in suspended animation. While the freezing process as depicted in the films is realistic, reversing the same process by heating, he argues, is more challenging, and can be dangerous if heated too fast. He also argues that this process, as depicted in the film, is a scientific, physical challenge.[15] In 2020, researchers were able to preservePanagrolaimus superbusnematodes in a suspended animation state known asanhydrobiosis (i.e. while extremelydesiccated) inside a liquid metal cage (Gallium, which later solidified) during seven days, and then recovered them alive.[16]
Aside from droids/robots, the use ofartificial intelligence andcomputers is found very commonly in theStar Wars universe. Computing technology exists in many different forms in both theStar Wars movies andother media, with the capacity to process large volumes of data every millisecond and store it for safekeeping. Examples include simple viewscreens that receive and display information; scanners which examine an object, interpret the collected data and present it to the user; and data-pads, portable computers (often handheld) which allow individuals to access and interpret information.[17]
An example of computing devices which perform very complex tasks in theStar Wars franchise are navigational computers, also called nav-computers or navi-computers, which form a key part of manyStar Wars spacecraft. Such computers are said to store vast libraries ofastrogation knowledge and work with their ships' sensors andhyperdrive to plot safe courses in real-space andhyperspace. Source material makes it clear that only the desperate or foolhardy would attempt traveling in hyperspace without an up-to-date navi-computer as a ship can easily smash into a hazard without one. Some smallStar Wars spacecraft (such as theX-wing) use anastromech droid in place of a navi-computer due to size restrictions.[18][19]
A unique form ofdata storage found in theStar Wars universe is theHolocron, a type of artefact used by bothJedi andSith to store vital and sensitive knowledge, usually concerning theForce. Holocrons resemble evenly-proportionedpolyhedrons and typically store information in the form of holographic lessons. Many will only permit access to someone who is sensitive in the Force, and for additional security may require a separate memory crystal in order to activate.[20] More mundane forms of data storage exist in theStar Wars franchise, though some have tremendous capacity. The IGV-55 Surveillance Vessel, a class ofImperialspy ship seen in theStar Wars Rebels television series, possess a massive database that can store billions ofyottabytes of data.[21]
In a 2016 article forTechCrunch, contributor Evaldo H. de Oliveira estimated the amount of data needed to manage theDeath Star was in excess of 40,000 yottabytes. This included an estimate that the Death Star's crew would generate 8.84exabytes per year, with an additional 2.08 exabytes generated per year by its droid population.[22]
An example of multi-purpose artificial intelligence is seen in moisture vaporators, devices that produce water from hydrogen and oxygen in the air. These are first seen on film on the planetTatooine inA New Hope. Their artificial intelligence is more basic than most other forms of artificial intelligence seen in theStar Wars universe, dealing with input from humidity and air density sensors.[23] They use this input to help them take samples from the air and produce water. They also require input from robots. The film also showsOwen Lars, Luke's uncle, telling C-3PO that he needs a droid that can really understand the language of moisture vaporators, with the droid claiming that it is in his programming.[24]
Cybersecurity also plays a major role in the films and other media, with many real-world counterparts. The termslicer is the in-universe designation for ahacker in theStar Wars universe, describing individuals such asDJ (Benicio del Toro) fromThe Last Jedi.[25] A form ofsecurity token is worn byImperial andFirst Order officers called a code or access cylinder, which grants them access to restricted areas or databases.[11]
A report analysing the Empire's cyber-security systems used inRogue One, in which IT experts were consulted, made a few conclusions. One claim by information systems management professor Hsinchun Chen was that the theft of digital architectural designs are a common phenomenon in real life. He concludes that software breaches should not just be resisted, as in the case ofStar Wars, but successfully prevented by taking security measures far prior to any attempted attacks.[26] Corey Nachreiner, in a 2017GeekWire article, also examined some of the lessons in cyber-security offered byRogue One. This include the need to safeguard theInternet of Things represented by the droid characterK-2SO (Alan Tudyk) and the need for strongmulti-factor authentication.[27]
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The use ofcybernetics inStar Wars is documented by much of theStar Wars media, including novels, comics, and television series. It is used by characters for both enhancements and replacements for damaged or destroyed body parts. Within theStar Wars universe, characters who uses cybernetics to enhance their bodies are referred to ascyborgs.[28] Cybernetics are used to replace organic body parts at a deeper and more complex level than prosthetics, and the process is usually irreversible.[28] In the films, it is most recognizably used on two major characters:General Grievous andDarth Vader, both whom are cyborgs. Its applications are also first seen on film inStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
Darth Vader, previously Anakin Skywalker, lost one of his limbs starting in theClone Wars, and later, towards the end of the Clone Wars, lost most of his limbs after a deadly lightsaber duel withObi-Wan Kenobi. Shortly after the duel, he was caught in the heat range of molten lava, resulting in the burning and melting of much of his flesh and tissue.[29]
Vader lost many of his nervous and sensory systems, most of which were replaced by prosthetics, bionics, and, later, cybernetics. Besides having cybernetic limbs, Vader wore a suit equipped with cybernetic systems, both to help him function, and to protect his damaged body from exposure. His belt included high and low range audio sensors. The belt also included respiratory and temperature regulation adjustment controls. Vader's neural functions were also regulated by neuro sensors, located towards the back of his helmet. Additionally, to help him see, breathe, and maintain cognition, Vader's helmet was equipped with enhanced visual sensors, body heat vents, and neural function sensors.[30]
Vader's internal oxygen, blood, and nutrient flows, as well as nervous systems, were regulated by the control plate on his chest. His muscular system was enhanced by a neuro-electrical nervous pulse system in his cybernetic suit, giving him amplified physical strength. Scientists and scientific commentators have suggested that Vader lost his lungs by inhaling air in extreme temperatures within the heat range of lava on the planet Mustafar, causing damage to his lung tissue. This would require the need for a filter mask to take in more purified oxygen, as well as replacement lungs, most of which are possible by modern scientific and technological means.[15]
Apeer reviewed journal by twoDanish physicians concluded that Darth Vader's suit acts as a wearablehyperbaric chamber, which supports his supposedly chronically injured lungs. It also protects his damaged and vulnerable skin from infection.[31] In a study on the breakdown of Vader's breathing habits, one of the two physicians concluded that the suit would not be their top preference, but rather thatlung transplantation would be a better choice.[32]
General Grievous's body is almost entirely cybernetic. Animation directorRob Coleman explained that Grievous was made with technological flaws, and experienced difficulties such as poor manoeuvrability and coughing, the latter caused by his lungs constantly filling with liquid. His mechanical body did, however, give him advantages in combat, due to being made of solid material, instead of organic bones and limbs.[15]
Grievous's organic body being destroyed in conflict left him with only a brain, eyes, and internal organs, which scientists placed in a constructed cybernetic body.Anatomy andneurobiology professor James H. Fallon of theUniversity of California explains that one problem with this type of cybernetic body is the lack of knowledge in brain circuitry coding, which has yet to be decrypted. Fallon argues that most prosthetic and cybernetic technology inStar Wars is still plausible with continuous research and development in the relevant fields.[15]
Many other minor characters and organizations within theStar Wars universe are known to utilize cybernetics.Lobot, the chief administrative aide ofBespin's Cloud City, is fitted with an AJ^6 cyborg construct. While it allowsdirect neural interface with computer systems via wireless signal and overall productivity increase, the implant tends to negatively affect the user's personality in what is referred to as the "lobotomy effect."[10] ImperialDeath Troopers are fitted with implants which provide biofeedback information and can stimulate sensory organs for increased performance.[33] Foot soldiers of the Guavian Death Gang, first appearing inThe Force Awakens, receive cybernetic augmentations in exchange for their loyalty, including a second mechanical heart which pumps speed- and aggression-enhancing chemicals directly into the bloodstream.[34]
Reference material identifies a number of different methods by which energy is created in theStar Wars universe. Examples of power sources used for domestic devices include chemical,fission andfusion reactors. InStar Wars spacecraft and other large structures, fusion reactors powered by the fictional "hypermatter" fuel are considered the most common source of energy. These fuels are typically hazardous to organic life, taking the form of corrosive liquids or poisonous gases.[35][36][37]
Solar power technology is a method of energy generation used mainly by the ImperialTIE fighter, which features in manyStar Wars films and other media. According to theTIE Fighter Owner's Workshop Manual, these spacecraft are fitted with two hexagonal wings that have six trapezoidalsolar arrays on both sides which collect energy from nearby stars and use it to power the fighter'sion engines.[38][39] AnotherStar Wars ship noted for using solar power is thesolar sailer piloted byCount Dooku (Christoper Lee) inAttack of the Clones and other media. It deploys asolar sail 100 m (330 ft) wide which captures interstellar energy in order to travel without requiring fuel.[40][41]
Anelectron transfer experiment conducted by scientists in 2005 involved a supramolecular TIE fighter ship design. It is unclear whether the experiment managed to achieve the desired results or not.[42]
| External videos | |
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 Shields Up! The Physics of Star Wars Leicester University |
The use offorce fields in theStar Wars universe is documented both in the main films of theStar Wars saga and inspin-off media, such asThe Clone Wars, as well as other media adaptations. According to reference material, protective force fields used to defend starships, buildings, armies and other objects from attack are known asdeflector shields and come in two main types. Particle shields repel solid objects such as space debris or high-velocity projectiles. Ray shields (or energy shields) repelradiation, lasers,blasters and other energy-based attacks. Deflector shields which envelop an object can either be generated by it or be projected onto it from another location.[43][44]
Deflector fields come in many different sizes and varieties in theStar Wars universe, as seen in the films and explained in background literature.Droidekas, which made their theatrical appearance inThe Phantom Menace, are equipped with deflector shields that are polarized to allow their own blaster bolts to pass through while stopping any fire coming from outside.[45] InThe Empire Strikes Back a shield system protects the Rebels' Echo Base onHoth. Projected by modules studded throughout the surrounding territory and powered by a central generator, only slow-moving ground-contact vehicles (such asWalkers) can penetrate the shield.[46] The incompleteDeath Star II is protected remotely via deflector shield generator located on theEndor inReturn of the Jedi. Identified as a SLD-26 Planetary Shield Generator, it can envelop a small moon (or large space station) with a nearly impenetrable shield for an indefinite period of time.[47] InRogue One: A Star Wars Story, the tropical planetScarif is completely enveloped in a deflector shield to prevent anyone from landing or leaving the planet without Imperial authorization except by a single shield gate.[48]
ManyStar Warsspacecraft andstarfighters are said to possess generators which create both types of deflector shields around them to protect against normal space travel and enemy attacks. Smaller vessels may only have a single deflector shield generator which can be adjusted to protect specific parts of the ship, while larger vessels may have multiple generators each protecting a specific area.[44] Large starships with hangar bays will also employ another type of force field called amagnetic shield. These are activated whenever the hangar's blast doors are opened, retaining a pressurized atmosphere within the bay while allowing smaller vessels to come and go.[43]
TheGungans are described inStar Wars sources employing uniquehydrostatic field generators to create their underwater bubble cities as seen inThe Phantom Menace. This same technology is used to make defensive shields for their army, from small handheld versions that can deflect solid objects and blasters to large generators carried on fictionalFambaa creatures. These generators can envelop an area as wide as one kilometre in a protective bubble which will stop weapons fire but notbattle droids from marching through the perimeter.[49][50][51]
In 2014, physics students at theUniversity of Leicester developed a module of plasma-based deflector shields, inspired by the ones inStar Wars and other science fiction stories. However, the field poses some issues. One issue is that the deflector shield would have to be much stronger to repel than to hold the plasma in position. Another is that the shield would deflect electromagnetic energy, including light. This would make it impossible for someone inside the shield to see anything.[52][53]
In 2015, the American companyBoeing built plasma-based force fields, similar in size and dimensions to the force fields used inStar Wars ground battles. Like the ground force fields in theStar Wars films, these shields cannot block or repel solid matter, but are instead built to protect vehicles from the force of explosions.[54][55][56][57]
Technology which allows for the manipulation ofgravity is a common feature in theStar Wars films and other media. Examples include the use oftractor beams, force fields which envelop an object and manipulate it remotely, andrepulsorlifts, which push against a planet's gravity to create lift.[37][43]Artificial gravity andinertial dampeners are also used onStar Wars spacecraft, protecting their occupants from the crushing gravitational forces of high-speed manoeuvres or when landing on a high-gravity world.[37][58] Interdiction fields create gravitational shadows which preventStar Wars ships from using theirhyperdrives or pull them out ofhyperspace.[37]
Levitation is depicted throughout theStar Wars films, as well as in most other spin-off media of the franchise. Levitation inStar Wars is primarily caused by a type ofanti-gravity technology known within the setting as a "repulsorlift engine." According to in-universe material, a fusion-powered repulsorlift or 'antigrav' creates a field of negative gravity that pushes against the natural gravitational field of a planet. Terrestrial vehicles such aslandspeeders andspeeder bikes use this technology to propel themselves across a planet's surface. Repulsorlifts are also used by spacecraft as secondary engines for atmospheric flight and planetary landings and take-offs.[60]
Other vehicles that utilize repulsorlift engines includeJabba the Hutt'ssail barge andsnowspeeders.[61] Many droids and robots also use this technology to hover and move above a planet's surface, such as theImperial Probe Droid.[62] The carbonite freezing coffin that keptHan Solo in suspension was suspended in mid-air using a gravity repulsion force field.[63][64]
Levitation by this method is currently considered a physical impossibility by today's means. Despite being a current scientific impossibility, research on such concepts are still being hypothesized and exercised by scientists today, with occasional minor breakthroughs.[65][66][67]
Magnetic levitation already exists in modern times, but with fundamental differences from levitation seen inStar Wars. An example of vehicles that maintain constant levitation without the use of constant propulsion is theMaglev train. The Maglev train stays afloat by using the magnetic repulsion of like charges, but relies on the surface that it travels above— in its case, the train tracks— to have the same charge as its own coils, resulting in a magnetic repulsion.[68]
One possibility for magnetic levitation as seen inStar Wars is suggested by physics associate professor Michael Dennin. According to him, if a planet were made out of the right magnetic materials, such asiron ornickel, the vehicle could then produce a repulsive charge, allowing it to lift above the surface.[15]
In 2010, Australian inventor and engineerChris Malloy constructed ahoverbike that uses turbofans to enter flight. It is claimed to fly up to 10,000 feet (3,050 m) and fly at a horizontal speed of 173 miles per hour (278 km/h).[69] The hoverbike has been repeatedly compared to the hoverbikes seen in theStar Wars films.[70][71] It is unclear, however, whether these hoverbikes were actually inspired byStar Wars or not. Another fundamental difference, besides their power sources, is that the hoverbikes inStar Wars can only climb a few meters above the ground, unlike the current ones being developed.[2][72] Malloy's company,Malloy Aeronautics, is reported to have partnered with an American-based company for further experimenting, as well as developing Malloy's hoverbikes for the US military.[73][74]
Atractor beam is described as an invisible force field that can grab, trap, suspend, and move objects with force. According toStar Wars sources, tractor beams generators and projectors are common components on many spacecraft, with both military and civilian applications. Tractor beams can be used to move cargo, tow disabled vessels, or assist in docking manoeuvres. They can also be used offensively to slow down or immobilize an opponent, though targeting fast and manoeuvrable ships can be challenging.[75][76] Additional uses are made of this technology for other purposes as well. Open-topped taxis onCoruscant emit tractor fields when in flight to keep passengers securely seated without requiring restraints.[77] TheAT-TE possess tractor-field generators in its footpads for a stronger grip over uneven ground.[78]
Scientists have explored the concept of tractor beams, having some success since the early 2010s. In that time, they have managed to produce lasers with unusual intensity-beam profilesthat allow them to attract and repel tiny particles. Some breakthroughs include the successful project of a team of science researchers from theAustralian National University, who managed to produce adoughnut shaped laser that can drag hollow glass spheres by a distance of roughly 7.8 inches, several times the distance of previous experiments.[79]
Another successful experiment was conducted at theUniversity of Bristol, which revealed that sound could be manipulated to produce possible future tractor beams, rivalling light. This could be done using a precisely timed sequence of sound waves, produced by tiny loudspeakers, creating a limited space with low pressure that can counteract gravity and levitate objects.[79]
Holography inStar Wars was first seen on film in the fourth film of the sagaEpisode IV: A New Hope. Holographs were used for various purposes, mainly communication. At the time of the release of the originalStar Wars films, holographic technology in3D format, as seen in the films, was not available.
Neowin reports that research conducted byMicrosoft has brought about the creation of 3D holographic technology. The technology is intended be used for various purposes, such as plotting data on maps.[80]
ExtremeTech reports that smartphones created at HP labs are now bringing 3D holographic technology fromStar Wars closer to reality.[81]
Also,Fox News reported thatAustralian National University students were close to developingStar Wars-style holograms. A researcher for the project said that the material the device consists of will be transparent and used in a wide range of applications, as well as “complex manipulations with light.”.[82]
In theStar Wars universe, two different types of fictional propulsion exist to allow starships to travel in space and across the galaxy: sublight drives and hyperdrives.[35] Sublight drives propel starships below thespeed of light and are used upon leaving a planet's atmosphere and during space battles. Many different varieties of sublight drives or sublight engines exist, but the most common areelectromagnetic propulsion types likeion engines which release charged particles to propel the ship forward. Ion engines also lack moving parts and high-temperature components, making them easier to maintain.[83][84] Sublight drives can propelStar Wars vessels clear of a planet's atmosphere and gravity in a matter of minutes.[35]
The hyperdrive allowsStar Wars spaceships to travel between stars by transporting them into another dimension, known as hyperspace, in which objects with mass are capable of traveling faster than the speed of light. The in-universe explanation for how hyperdrives function is that they utilizesupralight 'hypermatter' particles (such as coaxium) to launch ships into hyperspace at faster-than-light speeds without changing their complex mass/energy configuration. Hyperdrives are categorized by class, with the lower class indicating higher speed.[85] Hyperspace is one of two dimensions of space-time.[86] It iscoterminous with 'realspace' and permeated by "shadow" counterparts of realspace objects. Any object in hyperspace colliding with one of these shadows is destroyed, so in order to navigate safely, starships must utilize navigational computers (or navi-computers) to calculate a safe route through hyperspace.[87] Thanks to hyperdrive technology,Star Wars ships can cover interstellar distances which would normally require thousands of years in a matter of hours.[35]
Deep Space 1 was the firstNASA spacecraft to use ion propulsions, with comparisons made directly between it and the Empire's TIE Fighter. According to NASA, while their means of propulsion were the same, advances in power generation would be needed in order to develop an ion engine as powerful as those used on TIE fighters.[88] Thespace probeDawn also uses ion propulsion, although unlike the TIE fighter it was fitted with three instead of just two.[89]
In an examination of the amount offorce generated byStar Wars sublight engines, Rhett Allain, associate professor of physics atSoutheastern Louisiana University, looked at the scene of a Hammerhead corvette ramming oneImperial Star Destroyer into another during the final space battle ofRogue One: A Star Wars Story. He argues that the Hammerhead's engines would had to have exerted2×1011 (or 200billion)Newtons in order to push the Star Destroyer. This would make them 6,000 times more powerful than aSaturn V rocket.[90]
InStar Wars, a subspace transceiver, also known as a subspace comm, subspace radio, and hyper-transceiver, was a standard device used for instantaneous, faster-than-light communications between nearby systems. Similar to its shorter-ranged cousin, the com-link, the subspace transceiver relied on energy to broadcast signals. Starships carried these units to broadcast distress signals and other important messages. They used subspace as the communications medium. The subspace transceiver of anImperial Star Destroyer had a range of 100 light-years.[91]
Devices for shorter-range communications, such as the com-link, can be either hand-held (as seen inA New Hope) or strapped to the wrist (as seen inThe Empire Strikes Back, during the early scenes on the planetHoth). These devices can also be tuned with encryption algorithms for private communication.[92]
Most humanoid droids, such as C-3PO, communicate long distances using these com-links. Other droids, such as R2-D2 and Imperial Probe Droids, use antennas to transmit/receive messages and signals for longer range communications.[62]
Devices for long-range communications within a planet are connected by satellites orbiting the planet.[91]
Star Wars depicts robotics which resembles current robotics technology, though at a much more advanced and developed level.[93] Robotics inStar Wars are generally divided into two categories, as in modern reality: military and civil.
Some robots in theStar Wars universe are capable of performing multiple types of tasks, while others can only perform one type of task. For example,21-B is built for the sole purpose of performing medical tasks. Others, such as humanoid protocol droids likeC-3PO, are built for multiple purposes. These range from basic physical chores to translating between different forms of communication, including with sophisticated computers and other forms of artificial intelligence.[95] Other, barrel-shaped robots, such asR2-D2, are built with multiple features and capabilities. These include repairing and programming advanced devices, as well as maintaining them.
The basic concepts and purposes for robotics inStar Wars, as in real life, are to reduce human labour, assist humans with sophisticated requirements, as well as store and manage complex information. Another parallel to the modern world is the use of robots inStar Wars for tasks not considered safe or acceptable for humans. Robots are also seen as a source of cutting human labour costs.[94]
The Japaneseradio control manufacturerNikko developed a toy robot version of R2-D2, with more limited abilities than the R2-D2 has in theStar Wars films. The toy can respond to a small number of verbal commands. Most of the robot's operations must be done manually, due to its limited abilities.[96][97] A related development is the creation of the droidBB-8 for the filmStar Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (made by different manufacturers). In the film, BB-8 is a semi-automated robot, operated by remote control, unlike C-3PO (played byAnthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (played byKenny Baker), who were portrayed by actual actors. The BB-8 toy is operated by remote control,[98][99] but it also has some independent features, and shares its manner of movement and other features with the film's BB-8.[100]
In 2010,NASA developed robots inspired by the hovering remote-controlled droids, seen in theStar Wars films and other media, and used by theJedi forlightsaber combat training. These robots were used in NASA space stations for experimentation.[101] Also in 2010, a hacker developed similar robots, but only capable of floating beyond a limited magnetic range.[102]
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Military robots in theStar Wars universe are built on the same principles as modern military robotics. While most military robots in the modern world are designed in various shapes, depending on their purpose, the military robots of theStar Wars universe are primarily humanoid, and built to imitate live,organic soldiers, mainly human ones.
A major similarity between modern military robotics and those of theStar Wars universe is that different robots are built and designed for different specific purposes, whether those purposes are ground warfare, maritime warfare, aerial warfare, or space warfare, as seen in theStar Wars prequel films. Such uses are considered unpractical and unfeasible by current means, given the sophistication and resources each individual unit would require.
Another significant, recognizable distinction of the robots in theStar Wars universe, whether military or civilian, is their strong sense of independence and self-awareness, compared to current robots. This is mainly due toStar Wars robots having much more advanced sensors and self-computing systems than current robots do. Despite the limited abilities of current robots, Dr. Jonathan Roberts, director of CSTRO Autonomous Systems Laboratory, proclaims that the role of robots in assisting humans is going to increase, similarly to what is seen inStar Wars.[103]
TheChristian Science Monitor reported in 2011 that an American blogger, out of patriotism, tried to raise money to build a roboticAT-AT for theUS military. Heikko Hoffman, a robotics expert fromHRL Laboratories, who was not associated with the project, claims that AT-ATs are possible, though some of their designs should be changed from those seen in theStar Wars universe, for safety, and for financial and operational costs. The project, though not terminated, was suspended, due to intellectual property concerns from Lucasfilm.[104]
In 2012, theUnited States Navy built a robot modelled after C-3PO, but appears to function for both military and civilian purposes.[105]
Examples ofMacro-engineering on vast scales feature prominently in theStar Wars films and other media. The most famous example is theDeath Star from the originalStar Wars film. A giant battle station which is said to be 160 km (99 mi) in diameter, it was built in secret over a twenty-year period and operated with a crew of over one million.[106][107] TheDeath Star II which appears inReturn of the Jedi is even larger at 200 km (120 mi) in diameter.[108][107] InThe Force Awakens, theFirst Order unveilsStarkiller Base, a planetoid 660 km (410 mi) in diameter which has been transformed into a mobile weapons platform.[109][110] Theflagship of the First Order that appears inThe Last Jedi, theSupremacy, is aMega-classStar Destroyer 60 km (37 mi) wide and a crew of over two million.[111][112]
As part of a team project, a group of students atLehigh University in 2012 attempted to determine the cost and time needed to build a Death Star. They determined that the amount ofsteel alone needed to build a Death Star was1.08×1015 (or 1.08quadrillion)tons, which at then-current production rates would take 833,315 years and cost $852 quadrillionUSD. They also estimated that the total amount of mineableiron ore in the Earth would be enough to build two billion Death Stars.[113] Zachary Feinstein, an assistant professor at theMcKelvey School of Engineering atWashington University in St. Louis, estimated that the total cost for the first Death Star would amount to $193quintillion USD. Conversely, he estimated that the cost of building Starkiller Base would be a fraction of that price at $9.315 quintillion USD, but only if it was naturally able to maintain a self-sustaining atmosphere.[114]
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Aside from major technologies, theStar Wars universe also includes technologies that play less important roles with respect to the plot of the stories.
Macrobinoculars are hand-held devices that function likebinoculars, with the purpose of giving the user the ability to see vast distances. It was first seen on film inA New Hope and mentioned in itsnovelization. The websites tested.com reports thatSony has developed macrobinoculars comparable to the ones seen inStar Wars, known as DEVs, and produced in separate types of models. These give the user the ability to see great distances clearly and record their sightings.[115]
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