Droid

Droids, short for androids, or also called robots, are mechanical beings, often possessing artificial intelligence. They are used in a variety of roles and environments, often those considered too menial or too dangerous for humans and other species. Droids are also used in fields that require extensive specialization and knowledge, such as medical droids and astromech droids. Droids designed for combat are battle droids.
Depending on the model and its corresponding purpose, droids are totally obedient, rugged, expendable, capable of vast memory recall, and mathematically precise. These characteristics make them well suited for many jobs, though the lack of independent thought in the cheaper, less advanced models limited their capability. This lack of autonomy is simultaneously a vast asset and a glaring weakness—an asset in terms of obedience and control but a massive drawback in terms of effectiveness. Designers face a fundamental paradox—make a droid overly intelligent, and it may rebel; yet make a droid not intelligent enough and it will be ineffectual.
Customarily, droid names are often an arrangement of numbers and letters.


Definition of a droid
The words droid and robot are generally taken to mean the same thing. However, the official definition of a droid is "a mechanical being with a self-aware consciousness, as distinguished from a computer by having a self-contained method of locomotion."


Droid types
Droids are categorized by function, though the lines between categories are often blurred. Many droids serve a variety of roles and purposes, making classification difficult. Other droids, especially those who are "one-of-a-kind," have unique capabilities and changing characteristics that make classification impossible. Some droids change functions as they change owners, sometimes many times throughout their operational life. These limitations notwithstanding, droids are grouped according to their primary factory-installed functionality.

Assassin droids
These droids are used to kill specific targets, often those too well guarded for approach by conventional means. Typically deployed by bounty hunters, assassin droids are often tasked with suicide missions—missions with almost zero probability for successful escape. In addition to their expendability, assassin droids can be programmed with advanced targeting algorithms, allowing them to be more accurate than even the best sentient sniper. Not all assassin droids utilise traditional weaponry, however—certain models can be outfitted with a number of different weapons or sensors, allowing for different tactics such as brute force attacks or stealthy penetrations. Because of the higher intelligence and independence required for droids of this type, rebellions are known to occur, though not very frequently.

Astromech droids
Droids used for interstellar starships, astromech droids, are mobile multi-role droids capable of hyperspace navigation, systems monitoring/control, damage repair, and data storage. These droids have extensive databases of stellar systems and hyperspatial coordinates, which are necessary for faster-than-light travel. Astromech droids are also used in certain starfighter models, typically those with hyperdrives. They serve a similar, though expanded, role—supplementing the ship's onboard computer systems and aiding the pilot in navigation, repair, and interfacing. More advanced astromech models can often pilot a small craft by themselves, blurring the line between an astromech droid and a pilot droid. Some astromechs are equipped with numerous features that expand their functionality beyond navigation and repair, allowing them to become useful in almost any situation. Because of their emphasis in technical fields, astromech droids are not equipped with vocabulators or language programming; instead communicating through a series of beeps and whistles known as binary. In addition to an astromech's factory-installed functionality, many of these droids are customizable—allowing upgrades to sensors, tools, software, and even basic hardware.

Battle droids
Droids are used most commonly in combat-related roles, where they offer a plethora of advantages over organic units. Droids can carry heavy weaponry and shielding, move rapidly without tiring, analyse targeting and trajectory calculations instantly, and protect crucial systems by burying them deep inside the frame of the droid (often featuring backup processing and multiple layers of redundancy). Droids can follow orders to the letter, taking risks no organic unit ever would yet still maintaining their calm precision. Most importantly, however, these droids are expendable—unlike sentients, the amount of time and energy it costs to assemble a droid is often a tiny fraction than that of recruiting (or growing) an organic and training them. Built on massive automated assembly lines thousands of capable droids can be produced in a matter of hours. Because of these factors, droids are used extensively as military units. Despite these advantages, however, combat droids suffer from several drawbacks. Most importantly, in order to create total obedience and foil any chance of rebellion, droid units are often crippled with extremely sub-par artificial intelligence. Also, many (though not all) droid units lack the flexibility and manipulation capabilities of organic units, especially in terms of hand and finger use.

Interrogation/torture droid
Another prime use of droids is to question prisoners, and, if deemed necessary, also torture them. Droid interrogators can be more effective than Human ones for a number of reasons: impersonal machines often increase the subject's fear, making him/her more likely to be cooperative; droids offer a precise medical-based analysis of a subject's system and tolerances, and whether or not he/she was telling the truth, all of which can be exploited frighteningly effectively by integrated serums and other tools of torture. Additionally, subjects under interrogation by droids often direct their anger and fear towards the mechanised machines, not towards the actual captors. This is often followed up by a later visit from a "friendly" sentient officer, offering sympathy and establishing a friend-like relationship. Once a rapport has been established, often the subject will divulge secrets willingly, without requiring direct (and sometimes ineffective) coercion.

Medical droids
Droids are also used in the field of medical science. They offer advantages over Humans in that they can be programmed with massive amounts of information, none of which will be forgotten, making them extremely cost-effective. Meddroids, as they are known, can store detailed records on hundreds of patients, in addition to exhaustive information on diseases, wounds, and infirmities. Medical droids can analyse wounds or diseases and automatically determine severity of injury, necessary medication, and possible side-effects; all by utilizing sensors and extensive databanks. The emotional detachment of these medical droids is both a blessing and a curse—an advantage because droids do not let emotions interfere with their task, but a disadvantage in that patients can often feel alienated from an impersonal machine. These droids can also operate on patients, using built-in tool extensions and surgical implements. These arm extensions are often modular, allowing rapid change from one medical specialization to another (e.g. from neurosurgery to pediatrics). Because of the high costs associated with comprehensive meddroids, some model lines are not as sophisticated and are usually used as assistants. These medical assistant droids offer some independent functionality but are meant to be used in cooperation with dedicated medical droids, or with organic physicians.

Pilot droids
Droids are also used in piloting roles, both directly and indirectly. Some are used for atmospheric flight, while others are used for interstellar navigation. Droids are well-suited for piloting roles for several reasons: they can be programmed with detailed schematics of a ship, they will not panic when under enemy fire, they can maintain tight formations and execute precision attack plans, and, because of their close integration with the ship's computers, they can monitor and repair damage to the ship far more effectively than a Human. Because of their expendability, droid pilots do not require escape pods or other life support systems, saving cost and complexity on the ships they fly.

Protocol droids
Droids that are used to handle diplomatic affairs, and aid in translation between various languages, are known as protocol droids. Like medical droids, protocol droids utilise massive databanks, being programmed with thousands of different languages and dialects. Protocol droids are equipped with aural sensors, to receive audio information, and processing units, to analyse and apply necessary programming. Because of their close integration with sentients, protocol droids are often given in-depth personality matrices, allowing for a variety of different personalities and behaviours through a process called metaprogramming.

Scout droids
Droids are used in exploration and scouting roles as well, providing a cheap yet effective mobile sensor platform. Probe droids, often launched by the thousands, will use a one-shot propulsion system to reach the targeted area. Upon arrival, these droids will analyse the area with their powerful sensor arrays; sending the results of the scan back to the droid's creator. Droids of this type are used in many roles: military reconnaissance, deep space exploration, and mineral prospecting (primarily in asteroid fields). Other models are atmospheric-bound, relying on repulsorlift technology to move rapidly and traverse height differentials. Most scout droids carry a similar core loadout—a multiple-spectrum photoreceptor, a magnetic imaging device, a thermal imager, and signals transmission equipment. Some models feature built-in weaponry, such as a blaster, or expansion slots that can be used for a variety of additional sensors or weapons. Some droids also include a self-destruct mechanism to prevent acquisition by others. Because of their clearly defined role and the need to keep the cost per unit down, probe droids are given inexpensive processing units and relatively "dumb" A.I. This results in a lack of flexibility and systemic errors when confronted with unknown circumstances not outlined in the computer's parameters. These drawbacks aside, probe droids are very effective in their native role: providing inexpensive but broad sensor capability, regardless of climate, radiation levels, or hostile presence.

Other uses
In addition to the primary roles outlined above, droids serve in a myriad of other, more specialized functions:

Administrative droids function as secretaries and assistants.

Construction droids are used both for building projects and for building demolition.

Espionage droids are used as spies or saboteurs behind enemy lines.

Housekeeping specialist droids are used for the upkeep of homes.

Human replica droids are used to impersonate Human beings in almost every way.

Labour droids are used for menial labour, usually being equipped with only a rudimentary processor.

Librarian droids are used for data storage and processing.

Maintenance droids are used to monitor, clean, and maintain systems.

Mining droids are used to conduct mining operations without the need for manual labour.

Nanny droids are used to protect/babysit children.

Navigation droids are used as guides.

Tracker droids are used as spies and for prey searching.

Security droids are used to protect houses and property.

Service droids are used as waiters and chefs in public areas.

Slicer droids are used to slice into computer systems.

Training droids are used for training and honing skills like lightsaber combat.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Droids are typically treated as property. More advanced droids sometimes receive proportionally more respect. Some protest the status of droids in galactic society as slavery. This is a contentious issue, owing in part to the difficulty of assessing levels of artificial intelligence, and determining which droids, if any, can be considered properly sentient. Although emancipation of droids is a radical concept, some oppose memory wipes except for very simple droids.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

There are five Classes of droids or Degrees of droids. They are used to classify droids. Droids are divided based upon creativity, intelligence, and capacity for independent thought. It also depends on the nature of work they are built for.

Class one
Class one droids work in the fields of mathematics, physics, physical sciences, and medicine. Although they have in-depth knowledge of their field, they are rarely programmed to apply their knowledge to everyday situations. Class one droids are considered little more than computers since all they usually do is perform calculations. They tend to be more expensive, on average, than droids in any other category. There are four subcategories of class one droids:
Medical droids
Medical droids treat patients, assist doctors and surgeons, and work in laboratories to develop and test new medicines. Unlike other class one droids, medical droids commonly practice the art they are programmed with.
Biological science droids
Biological science droids study the life of plants, animals, and minerals.
Physical science droids
Physical science droids work in fields of physical science such as astronomy, cosmology, hyperphysics, and trans-dimensional quantum metaphysics. They study phenomena found in the physical universe along with developing and testing theories.
Mathematics droids
Mathematics droids work in the field of mathematics, making billions of calculations in short periods of time. Less sophisticated math droids are used as accountants.

Class two
Class two droids are programmed for engineering and other technical sciences. They differ from class one droids because they apply the science to real-life situations. Class two droids are rarely equipped with Basic vocabulators, instead communicating through Binary. There are five subcategories of class two droids.
Astromech droids
Astromech droids can interface with most starships. Their primary purpose is to calculate hyperspace jumps, and most have other functions such as repairing starships or running some of their functions during flight.
Exploration droids
Exploration droids explore planets and test them for natural resources. They are also used to explore asteroid fields, possible hyperspace lanes, and even deep space. They are valued for their analysis abilities.
Environmental droids
Environmental droids study and influence the environment.
Engineering droids
Engineering droids perform tasks in the fields of aerospace engineering, industrial engineering, material engineering, and more.
Maintenance droids
Sophisticated droids like those which make technical repairs to starships are categorized as class two droids, while most other simpler repair droids are classified as class five.

Class three
Class three droids are programmed to interact with humans. They are said to be the most advanced droids ever invented. There are four subcategories of class three droids.
Protocol droids
Protocol droids are programmed for diplomacy, often with the knowledge of millions of different languages and cultures. They are mainly used by ambassadors and diplomats.
Servant droids
Servant droids work in private households as butlers, maids, or personal chefs.
Tutor droids
Tutor droids are programmed with extensive knowledge with which to tutor students.
Child care droids
Child care droids take care of and sometimes even protect children. Some are not much more than expensive toys, while others can shoot blasters while carrying their charge away from danger.

Class four
Class four droids are programmed to fight. Almost all class four droids carry weapons. Armed combat droids were among the first droids ever created. There are four subcategories of class four droids.
Security droids
Security droids are used to guard businesses, households, and other buildings. Security droids carry nonlethal weapons or simple alarms.
Gladiator droids
Gladiator droids are designed to fight other droids, or sometimes even organic beings, for entertainment. Onlookers will watch as the droids fight to the death in battle arenas.
Battle droids
Battle droids are usually used in armies. They are easier and cheaper to create than an all-organic army. Many are quite durable, while others are nothing more than mass-produced cannon fodder.
Assassin droids
Assassin droids are used by assassins to eliminate their targets. Assassin droids are the only droids built specifically to kill organics.

Class five
Class five droids are simple labour droids that do menial labour tasks no one wants to do. Class five droids are the most often encountered droids. There are three subcategories of class five droids.
General labour droids
General labour droids do whatever tasks their owners want them to do, such as heavy lifting.
Labour-specialist droids
Labour-specialist droids specialise in one job. They perform poorly at other things.
Hazardous-service droids
Hazardous-service droids perform jobs organics cannot due to a hazardous environment.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Binary, CBell-1.

History

The earliest origins of droids are lost to history, and it is unknown exactly when the first droid was created, though some historians, only taking into account the more advanced worlds, place the origin of the first droids to approximately 6,453 TYA (26,347 BTC).  Nevertheless, for millennia, droids have served in galactic society alongside organic beings.  The bond between organic and mechanical lifeforms are tenuous, with the former fearing that droids will rise up against their masters. Though several droid revolts have taken place, most recent being the Directive 7 uprising, there is an "unspoken understanding" between human and droid cultures that has kept everyone working on the same team throughout the ages.
Droids have existed as far back as the earliest days of the Jedi Order, which was founded 10,670 TYA (22,130 BTC). One such ancient droid, Professor Huyang, has served the Jedi for several millennia. As a result of this ancient coexistence with living beings, the galaxy has often had an uneven relationship between organics and mechanicals. Records of uprisings and clashes between droids and their organic overlords have become increasingly common, as droids have slowly become more important in galactic society.

Lifespan

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Average Height

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Average Weight

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