R5-series astromech droid

"A meter-tall stack of the worst business decisions you could possibly want."

- Mechtech Illustrated

The R5-series astromech droid was a line of low cost astromech droids built by Industrial Automaton. Based upon the success of prior astromech models, such as the wildly popular R2-series, Industrial Automaton intended the R5-series to cater to budget buyers at the cost of some functionality.

Characteristics
Because of their inexpensive construction, however, droids of this series were plagued by a number of design flaws&mdash;most obviously, a sullen demeanor and sharp attitude resulting from deficiencies in the machine's personality matrix. Media outlets soon picked up on these errors: Mechtech Illustrated called the R5 model "a meter-tall stack of the worst business decisions you could possibly want."

History


During the Clone Wars, members of the R5-series were used by the Republic for a variety of roles, including use aboard starfighters like the ARC-170 and capital ships like the Acclamator-class assault ship.

They weren't quite as commonly used by Rebel pilots because the extra height of the R5 made them a more prominent target in an X-wing's droid socket, although the Alliance would use them in maintenance jobs extensively due to their low cost. Despite this, Wedge Antilles would use an R5 model.

After a particularly poor sales year, Industrial Automaton discontinued the R5 series in 22 BBY. To cover losses, the droid manufacturing firm repackaged R2-AG-series and R4-series droids in excess R5 shells.

Aboard Imperial warships, R5 units were used to monitor medical equipment such as life support capsules.

Due to their design problems, a number of R5 units were part of the population of ownerless, unwanted, and otherwise abandoned droids inhabiting Kligson's Moon.

Notable units

 * R5-A2
 * R5-A7
 * R5-D2
 * R5-D4
 * R5-D7
 * R5-D8
 * R5-G8
 * R5-H6
 * R5-J2
 * R5-K6
 * R5-L4
 * R5-M2
 * R5-X2
 * R5-Z22