Imperial probe droids, or probots, are used extensively
by Lord Vader's squadron in the search for the mian Rebel base after the
Battle of Yavin. Vader ordered thousands of probots to be sent out to enexplored
or uninhabited systems in hope that one might uncover the Rebels; inded,
a probot discovered the Alliance base on Hoth.
The probots Vader used were Arakyd
Viper Units, one of the top military probe droids manufactured in the Empire.
These probots have two main componenets. The first is and exterior hyperdrive
pod, which transports the probot inside across thousandsof light-years
to its destination. These pods are one-use-only, meaning that each probot
is sent on a one-way trip. After deployment, probots areleft behind to
continue observation.
Upon arriving at the destination world,
the pod streaks in to the planet's surface, applying emergency braking
thrusters. Observers often mistake arriving pods for meteorites. After
impact, the pod opens to release the probe droid.
Probots are very intellegent droids.
Equipped with repulsorlift and thruster units, they can move across planetary
surfaces at about forty kilometers per hour. They are cunning and incessantly
curious: if there is anything to be found on a world, a probot will
find it. They are armed with a blaster, althought they are programmed to
avoid conflict and to self-destruct if discovered by enemies.
Probots have extremely sensitive sensor
arrays that are used to detect signs of habitation, with acoustic, electromagnetic,
motive, seismic, and olfactory sensors. Optical cameras, zoom imagers,
infared scopes, magnetic imagers, radar and sonar transceiver, and radiation
meters all combine to give the probot a detailed view of the world around
it. Four manipulator arms and a high-torque grasping arm allow the probot
to take samples from the planet, while protected and retractable ultrasensitive
sensor probes extrude from the arms for detailed close scans.
The probot on Hoth made detailed observations
of the Rebel base, reporting the location of shield generators, artillery
emplacements, and troop deployments, thus giving the Empire excellent intelligence
before the assualt. While Han Solo and Chewbacca did destroy the probot,
the droid had already completed its mission of leading the Empire to the
Rebels.
