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Standing about one meter tall, astromech droids are utility robots designed to perform a large number of duties, most of them associated with mechanical devices and computer systems. These useful work droids are found throughout the galaxy and have been in use for many years.Standing about one meter tall, astromech droids are utility robots designed to perform a large number of duties, most of them associated with mechanical devices and computer systems. These useful work droids are found throughout the galaxy and have been in use for many years. There are several models in production, but the basic design involves a cylindrical body topped by a domed swiveling head. Astromechs move about on two treaded roller legs, and a third, retractable leg is often included for stability. Although they can readily understand some of the common languages spoken throughout the galaxy they communicate verbally through a rapid series of beeps and tones. However, they can also, given the proper connection, produce an on-screen printout in any programmed language.The most common models, known as "R2" units, are equipped with a variety of tools and appendages, which can be interchanged for specific assignments. Common equipment includes a welder, a small circular saw, one or more retractable arms, and a holographic projector. The small robots are often used aboard starships, or "plugged in" to droid sockets on single-pilot fighters such as the Y-wing, the X-wing, or the N-1 Starfighter, where they perform in-flight adjustments and repairs to aid the pilot. Once interfaced with a ship's onboard computer, an astromech can also act as a co-pilot, and perform calculations necessary for a ship to travel through hyperspace.
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C-3PO is a protocol droid whose primary functions are etiquette and translation, making interaction between the myriad races of the galaxy possible. Protocol droids such as Threepio are particularly useful to diplomats like Princess Leia, who must be especially aware of the subtleties of custom and language among the other cultures they encounter. Capable of conversing in six million forms of communication, Threepio is particularly versatile, owing in part to his wide variety of experiences. These experiences have also given him a distinct, pragmatic and pessimistic personality, making him almost human in his perceptions and feelings. Often paired with his spirited maintenance droid counterpart R2-D2, Threepio serves as Artoo's interpreter for human masters. C-3PO is a protocol droid whose primary functions are etiquette and translation, making interaction between the myriad races of the galaxy possible. Protocol droids such as Threepio are particularly useful to diplomats like Princess Leia, who must be especially aware of the subtleties of custom and language among the other cultures they encounter. Capable of conversing in six million forms of communication, Threepio is particularly versatile, owing in part to his wide variety of experiences. These experiences have also given him a distinct, pragmatic and pessimistic personality, making him almost human in his perceptions and feelings. Often paired with his spirited maintenance droid counterpart R2-D2, Threepio serves as Artoo's interpreter for human masters. While serving as a diplomatic protocol droid aboard Princess Leia's starship Tantive IV, C-3PO is unwillingly drawn into his counterpart's quest to find Obi-Wan Kenobi. Escaping the captured starship with R2-D2 in a life pod, Threepio crash-lands in the deserts of Tatooine to begin a new series of adventures. Wandering the dune sands alone, Threepio is captured by Jawas and sold along with Artoo to his new master Luke Skywalker, setting him on a course of events that take him into high adventure amidst the Rebellion against the Empire.
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Illegal imperial interrogation droids employ a variety of methods to extract information from prisoners. Torture and chemical injection are carried out with utterly heartless precision. ITO-series interrogator droids have multiple arms with pain-inducing tools and are equipped with their own repulsorlifts for drifting movement. Princess Leia faces one of these horrors in her cell on board the Death Star, as Darth Vader brings in the monstrosity to make her reveal the secret location of the Rebel base.
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A three-legged R2 series astromech utility droid, R2-D2 usually teams with a fussy golden protocol droid named C-3PO. Squat and barrel-shaped, Artoo-Detoo communicates electronically in a limited vocabulary of beeps and whistles, but his programming has evolved into a near-human personality that is both brash and bold. Artoo-Detoo is designed to operate in deep space, interfacing with fighter craft and computer systems to augment the capabilities of ships and their pilots, usually from a socket behind the cockpit. Artoo monitors and diagnoses flight performance, maps and stores hyperspace data, and pinpoints technical errors. The meter-high droid has two treaded legs to provide mobility, and a third leg that can drop down for extra stability on rough terrain. Artoo also has floatation devices and a periscoping visual scanner which can guide the droid while he is submerged. Artoo and Threepio have been at the heart of the Rebellion ever since their duty together on Princess Leia's consular ship, the Tantive IV. When the Princess' ship is overhauled and boarded by troops from the Imperial Star Destroyer Devastator, Leia programs R2-D2 with the vital stolen technical readouts of the Death Star. The little droid struggles to carry her secret message to Obi-Wan Kenobi, and comes to serve a new master, Luke Skywalker. As Skywalker's trusty companion, R2-D2 continues to play an important and ongoing role in helping the Rebels thwart Imperial forces.
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