 |
 |
 |
| I II III IV V VI EU |
 |
| ASTROMECH DROID Type: Astromech droid (astro-droid) Manufacturer: Industrial Automaton Designation: Navigator Affiliation: Various Weapons: Arc welder, buzz-saw Debut: A New Hope A series of immensely popular astro-droids, Industrial Automaton's astromech robots can be found all over the galaxy, preforming tasks as menial as serving drinks to repairing starships. Though Industrial Automaton's R-series astromechs are by far the most popular and famous astro-droids in the galaxy, other models of the droids exist, such as the G8- and P1-series. While most astromech droids are squat, cylindrical machines, navigatior droids such as FA-4 and the LE-series are also known as astromechs. All astromechs, whatever their form, are basically self-contained navigation computers, but are also programmed for starship maintenance, and sometimes piloting. Astromechs are often found travelling in special sockets in starfighters, or droid pools inside larger craft. In order to carry out their functions, astromechs are usually equipped with various tool-tipped appendages. These mechanical limbs are secreted in various places on the droid's body, though they are interchangeable if a different tool is needed. Standard tools are welders, saws, computer interface arms, scanners, fire extinguishers and claw arms, with many variations available. Early astromechs were not as versatile as their future incarnations; Industrial Automaton's R1- and P1-series droids were large and cumbersome - not the ideal droids for use in a small starfighter. However, the next attempt got it spot on; the R2 unit was a massive sucess, and most units outlived future models. Industrial Automaton built upon the sucess with R-series 3 through 7, though later models were either for specific duties only - such as the R7, which was designed solely to work with the E-wing starfighter - or had faults, in the case of the R5 unit. However, the astromech droid has become an integral part of life in the galaxy, and for many, the little astro-droids were the perfect automaton partners. |
| "No job is over this little guy's head" - Industrial Automaton ad slogan |
 |
 |
 |
| Links: Astromech.net - the complete astromech builder's resource |
| THE GALACTIC DATABASE |
| ASTROMECH : TIMELINE [43 BE - 62 BBY] - The R3-D series is developed [23 BE - 42 BBY] - The R4-P series is developed [3 BE - 22 BBY] - Industrial Automaton cancels production on its R5-series, and limits the warranty on R2, R3, and R4 booster rockets to a mere 20 years (HoloNet News - website) [24 AE - 5 ABY] - The R6-series begins production (Shield of Lies) |