Spelunker probe droid/Legends

"Come out, come out, sly droids. To my eyes, hidden you are not."

- Yoda

The Spelunker probe droid, also known as the chameleon droid, was a covert mine-laying probe droid used by the Commerce Guild, and later the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. It saw use on many fronts, including Ilum and Felucia.

The Commerce Guild maintained several mines on many inhospitable planets. For initial exploration of mineral resources, the Guild would dispatch probe droids via hyperspace pods. The chameleon droid was equipped with a sophisticated sensor array that could detect precious ores. Once the nimble droid studied the geological data of a prospective mine site, it would begin preliminary blasting in preparation for larger mining teams.



As the various corporate giants merged to form the leadership of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, they brought with them industrial assets that could be converted for warfare. The Arakyd Selunker probe droid model underwent extensive refitting by Techno Union engineers to become the chameleon droid, a covert mine-laying droid deployed by the Separatists for sabotage missions.

The chameleon droid gets its name from the use of a holographic array to project surrounding imagery in its place, effectively rendering the droid invisible. While not a true cloaking device, it is nonetheless effective against passive sensor scans. The droid's cylindrical body contains a small repulsorlift unit. While not used for propulsion, it does lessen the droid's overall weight, increasing its agility as it travels on four articulated pincer legs. The legs can generate traction fields allowing the droid to secure purchase on the most slippery of slopes. These droids could walk even on walls and ceilings.

The droid's mineral sensors had been replaced with laser cannons. Its storage bay that contained its blasting charges for mining duty had been left unchanged, though military-grade mines replaced the less potent explosives.

These units were de-activated after the execution of the Separatist Council by Darth Sidious's new apprentice, Darth Vader.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * "Chapter 14"
 * "Chapter 15"
 * "Chapter 16"