Astromech droid/Legends



Astromech droids were a type of droid which served as automated mechanics, performing a variety of repair duties and often serving as adjuncts or substitutes for nav computers on smaller starships.

Larger starships usually carried a large complement of these in case of malfunctions or combat damage, while some snubfighters (notably the T65 X-wing starfighter and Naboo N-1 starfighter), carried a droid in a special port for in-flight field repairs. Astromech droids had, in some cases, also been known to carry out light janitorial duties, and several instances of slicing carried out by these droids have been known, though this often required the installation of special programming.

Most astromechs were only able to communicate in writing, conveyed via another computer system, or through binary, a special code of clicks, bleeps, and similar sounds.



The most prominent example of an astromech droid was R2-D2, but there were other examples, such as T3-M4, who existed some 4000 years prior to the Battle of Yavin. The T3-series showed considerable likeness to the R2-series, indicating that astromechs have not been subject to great change with time. An exception to this is the R1 series; R1-G4 was one such antiquated model that not even Jawas could easily sell.



Since long before the Clone Wars, Industrial Automaton was by far the most successful manufacturer of astromech droids. They made the R-series 1-9. The R7-series was made specifically for use with the E-wing starfighter, while the others were for more general use.

Luke Skywalker briefly owned an E-wing and its associated R7 unit, R7-T1. He never felt very comfortable with either, though, and soon abandoned them both.



During the Clone Wars, R4-P17 was the astromech droid attached to Obi-Wan Kenobi's Jedi Starfighter.

See also:

 * List of Astromechs