Different Types of Droids

Types of Droids

Assassin Droid: These droids are used to kill specific targets, often those too well guarded for approach by conventional means. Typically deployed by bounty hunters, assassin droids are often tasked with suicide missions—missions with almost zero probability for successful escape. In addition to their expandability, assassin droids can be programmed with advanced targeting algorithms, allowing them to be more accurate than even the best sentient sniper. Not all assassin droids utilize traditional weaponry, however—certain models, such as the ASN-121, could be outfitted with a number of different weapons or sensors, allowing for different tactics such as brute force attacks or stealthy penetrations. Because of the higher intelligence and independence required for droids of this type, rebellions are known to occur, though not very frequently.

Astromech Droid: Droids used for interstellar starships, astromech droids, are mobile multi-role droids capable of hyperspace navigation, systems monitoring/control, damage repair, and data storage. These droids have extensive databases of stellar systems and hyperspatial coordinates, which are necessary for faster-than-light travel. Astromech droids are also used in certain starfighter models, typically those with hyperdrives. They serve a similar, though expanded, role—supplementing the ship's inboard computer systems and aiding the pilot in navigation, repair, and interfacing. More advanced astromech models can often pilot a small craft by themselves, blurring the line between an astromech droid and a pilot droid. Some astromechs, like members of the R2 series, are equipped with numerous features that expand their functionality beyond navigation and repair, allowing them to become useful in almost any situation. Because of their emphasis in technical fields, astromech droids are not equipped with vocabulators or language programming; instead communicating through a series of beeps and whistles known as binary. In addition to an astromech's factory-installed functionality, many of these droids are customizable—allowing upgrades to sensors, tools, software, and even basic hardware.

Battle Droid: Droids are used most commonly in combat-related roles, where they offer a plethora of advantages over organic units. Droids can carry heavy weaponry and shielding, move rapidly without tiring, analyze targeting and trajectory calculations instantly, and protect crucial systems by burying them deep inside the frame of the droid (often featuring backup processing and multiple layers of redundancy). Droids can follow orders to the letter, taking risks no Human ever will yet still maintaining their calm precision. Most importantly, however, these droids are expendable—unlike sentients, the amount of time and energy it cost to assemble a droid is often a tiny fraction that of recruiting (or growing) a Human and training them. Built on massive automated assembly lines, like the ones on Geonosis, thousands of capable droids can be produced in a matter of hours. Because of these factors, droids are used extensively as military units, most famously by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Despite these advantages, however, combat droids suffer from several drawbacks. Most importantly, in order to create total obedience and foil any chance of rebellion, droid units are often crippled with extremely sub-par artificial intelligence. This drawback is exemplified by the hideously poor A.I. of the B-1 battle droid, which rarely serves any purpose other than as cannon fodder. Also, many (though not all) droid units lack the flexibility and manipulation capabilities of organic units, especially in terms of hand and finger use.

Interrogation/Torture Droid: Another prime use of droids is to question prisoners, and if deemed necessary also as instruments of torture. The use of droid interrogators as opposed to Humans makes sense in a number of ways: impersonal machines often increase the subject's fear, making him more likely to be cooperative; droids offer a precise medical-based analysis of a subject's system, tolerances, and whether or not he is telling the truth; all of which can be exploited frighteningly effectively by integrated serums and other tools of torture. Additionally, subjects under interrogation by droids often direct their anger and fear towards the mechanized machines; not towards the actual captors. This is often followed up by a later visit from a 'friendly' sentient officer, offering sympathy and establishing a friend-like relationship. Once a rapport had been established, often times the subject will divulge secrets willingly, without requiring direct (and sometimes ineffective) coercion.

Medical Droid: Droids are also used in the field of medical science. They offer advantages over Humans in that they can be programmed with massive amounts of information, none of which will be forgotten, making them extremely cost-effective. Meddroids, as they are known, can store detailed records on hundreds of patients, in addition to exhaustive information on diseases, wounds, and infirmities. Medical droids can analyze wounds or diseases and automatically determine severity of injury, necessary medication, and possible side-effects; all by utilizing sensors and extensive databanks. The emotional detachment of these medical droids is both a blessing and a curse—an advantage because droids do not let emotions interfere with their task, but a disadvantage in that patients can often feel alienated from an impersonal machine. These droids can also operate on patients, using built-in tool extensions and surgical implements. These arm extensions are often modular, allowing rapid change from one medical specialization to another (e.g. from neurosurgery to pediatrics). Because of the high costs associated with comprehensive meddroids, some model lines (such as the DD-13 line or FX-7 models) are not as sophisticated and are usually used as assistants. These medical assistant droids offer some independent functionality but are meant to be used in cooperation with dedicated medical droids, or with organic physicians.

Pilot Droid: Droids are also used in piloting roles, both directly and indirectly. Some are used for atmospheric flight, while others are used for interstellar navigation. Droids are well-suited for piloting roles for several reasons: they can be programmed with detailed schematics of a ship, they will not panic when under enemy fire, they can maintain tight formations and execute precision attack plans, and, because of their close integration with the ship's computers, they can monitor and repair damage to the ship far more effectively than a Human. Because of their expandability, droid pilots do not require escape pods or other life support systems, saving cost and complexity on the ships they fly.

Protocol Droid: Droids that are used to handle diplomatic affairs, and aid in translation between various languages, are known as protocol droids. Like medical droids, protocol droids utilize massive databanks, being programmed with thousands of different languages and dialects. Protocol droids are equipped with aural sensors, to receive audio information, and processing units, to analyze and apply necessary programming. Because of their close integration with sentients, protocol droids is often given in-depth personality matrices, allowing for a variety of different personalities and behaviors through a process called metaprogramming.

Scout Droid: Droids are used in exploration and scouting roles as well, providing a cheap yet effective mobile sensor platform. Probe droids, often launched by the thousands, will use a one-shot propulsion system to reach the targeted area. Upon arrival, these droids will analyze the area with their powerful sensor arrays; sending the results of the scan back to the droid's creator. Droids of this type are used in many roles: military reconnaissance, deep space exploration, and mineral prospecting (primarily in asteroid fields). Other models are atmospheric-bound, relying on repulsorlift technology to move rapidly and traverse height differentials. Most scout droids carried a similar core loadout—a multiple-spectrum photoreceptor, a magnetic imaging device, a thermal imager, and signals transmission equipment. Some models feature built-in weaponry, such as a blaster, or expansion slots that can be used for a variety of additional sensors or weapons. Some droids also include a self-destruct mechanism to prevent acquisition by others. Because of their clearly defined role and the need to keep the cost per unit down, probe droids are given inexpensive processing units and relatively "dumb" A.I. This results in a lack of flexibility and systemic errors when confronted with unknown circumstances not outlined in the computer's parameters. These drawbacks aside, probe droids are very effective in their native role: providing inexpensive but broad sensor capability, regardless of climate, radiation levels, or hostile presence.

Administrative Droid: Administrative droids are first-degree droid models that functioned as secretaries and administrative assistants in a variety of settings and locations throughout the galaxy. The roles these droids are called upon to fulfill include the initiating of trade negotiations with commerce guilds or merchant houses, as well as serving as traveling aides. They are programmed with a high number of forms of communication and basic information for business issues.

Construction Droid: Construction Droids are used for both building projects and for building demolition.

Espionage Droid: Espionage droids are droids that, to all outward appearances, resemble a standard droid model, but have hidden programming used to record information and relay it to the droid's owner.

Human Replica Droid: Human replica droids, or HRDs, are sophisticated synthskin-covered droids designed to be nearly indistinguishable from Humans. Their design is similar enough to Human anatomy that even high-quality medical scanners are not always able to identify them as inorganic, although they are able to discern some differences from the typical Human. They are sometimes referred to as "meatdroids" or "droid clones." Unlike true clones, a droid clone can be created in under three months.

Nanny Droid: A nanny droid is a droid specifically built and programmed for the care of children. Many nanny droids are covered with synthflesh, which mimicked the mother's scent and warmth. Also standard in nanny droid design is an internal reservoir that can hold milk. Some nanny droids, such as Nanna, are equipped with weaponry to defend their charges if the need should arise.

Maintenance Droid: Maintenance droids perform simple cleaning, repair, and general maintenance tasks.

Service Droid: Service droids are any type of droid designed to perform as a waiter, a butler, or to provide any other type of general service. Bartender models are commonly seen in cantinas across the galaxy.

Security Droid: Security droids are armed fourth-degree droids used for defense on starships or in buildings. This group includes both military security droids and battle droids in use as ship security personnel. OOM security battle droids are one type of model, as was Z-58-0. OOM models were distinguishable by the red markings on their bodies.

Labor Droid: Labor droids, also known as worker droids, are fifth-degree droids designed to perform menial labor duties. Many are assembled on Mechis III.

Training Droid: Training droids are droids used for training and honing various skills, such as lightsaber combat or marksmanship. The hazards that training droids incur widely vary. Some, such as the Marksman-H, delivered harmless shocks to the trainee; others, such as Darth Vader's dueling droids, could kill an ill-prepared trainee.

In a military context, if training droids are equipped with higher-power weapons, they can be employed on the battlefield. Moreover, training droids are used for marksmen to practice quick-draw skills, reaction times and accuracy.

In Jedi training, the use of training droids developed the Shii-Cho combat form. Furthermore, the droids record the actions of two combatants in training and measure their vital constants. Other training droids are equipped with lightsabers instead of light blasters. Training droids are also used in Sith training, with Sith Lords such as Darth Maul and Darth Vader using them to hone their lightsaber skills.

Slicer Droid: Slicer droids are used to slice into computer systems. These droids are able to to open data streams, override commands and shut down security systems.

Tracker Droid: The term seeker is a nebulous term used to denote a small, repulsor-driven second-degree tracker droid that usually carries out either a courier, scout or assassin role. Remotes are also sometimes grouped into this category. Seeker droids are characterized as being small, fast and proficient in only one task. These droids are also known to be single minded in the completing of their task.

Navigation Droid: Navigation droids function as guides for the blind, and fulfilled all the necessities required by their owners.

Housekeeping Specialist Droid: A Housekeeping Specialist droid is a droid whose primary function is to maintain the upkeep of a home or other building. Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo received one named Kate as a housewarming gift in 5 ABY.

Mining Droids: Mining droids are automatons used throughout galactic history to conduct mining operations without the need for manual labor.

Holodroid: A holodroid is a droid unit infused with sophisticated holographic technology. Holodroids can change their appearance at will, so long as it conformed to the same basic structural build. In this regard, they are similar to TC-SC infiltration droids.