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From the dusty corners of Mos Eisley, to the grand Imperial halls of
Coruscant, you can't go very far without seeing some of the whirring gadgets known as droids. When folks
in the Star Wars Universe have a problem, be it a mechanical repair on a starship, the need for a translator on
a trip to Ryloth, or even the need for a nanny to watch the kids, they build a droid. Droids can be
defined as intelligent mechanical contraptions that are vital to the smooth operation of galactic
society. These specialized robots
fill every niche in the universe from trash collecting to surgery. At the same time though, droids are
often ignored and go unappreciated. Antidroid prejudice is common throughout the galaxy but those owners
who have spent long amounts of time with their droids have discovered just how loyal and trusting they can be.
You can't call yourself a droid engineer without knowing a little bit about where they come from and what
makes them so special. Unlike machines, all droids possess some degree of intelligence, and unlike computers
droids go one step further and are designed for mobility on limbs, wheels, or anti-gravity fields. The manufacture and
sales of droids is an extremely lucrative business and is dominated by the "Big Two" manufacturers known
as Cybot Galactica and Industrial Automaton. Other major figures in the droid industry include Arakyd
Industries, Genetech Corporation, and Veri Line Systems. The two largest droid manufacturing plants are
located on Mechis III and Telti, which together produce a very sizable percentage of all new automatons.
Both of these worlds are covered with construction plants and fully automated assembly lines.
The First of the "Big Two": Cybot Galactica
As one of the largest droid manufacturers in the galaxy, Cybot Galactica is a major
force in the galactic economy and a significant influence throughout the Core Worlds and
the Corporate Sector. Famous for the Protocol series, Cybot is also responsible for an
extraordinary array of droid models ranging from simple labor units to advanced security
sentinels. Specifically, Cybot Galactica is responsible for the following droids.
- Binary Load Lifter
- Guardian Droid
- Imperial City Maintenance Droid
- M-3P0 Protocol Droid
- Robo-bartenders
- 3P0 Protocol Droid
Obviously, the bread and butter of Cybot Galactica is the 3P0 Protocol line of droids. They are
among the most technologically advanced droids on the market, and as such are a common sight in
virtually every system.
The Other Half: Industrial Automaton
The other half of the "Big Two," Industrial Automaton is a massive and influential
droid corporation formed long ago through the merger of Automata Galactica and Industrial
Intelligence. Known for its high precision merchandise and deep discounts, the company's
crowning glory is the universally accepted and recognized R series of Astromech droids.
Industrial Automaton continually battles Cybot Galactica for the credit accounts of consumers
and offers an equally diverse product line. Competition-wise, a slight edge is given to
Industrial Automaton due to its wide array of affordable droids which are accessable to the
common citizen. The following is a brief list of some of the droids manufactured by Industrial
Automaton.
- Asp
- LOM Protocol Droid
- R2 Astromech
- R3 and R4 Astromech
- R5 Astromech
- SE4 Servant Droid
- MN-2E General Maintenance Droid
The Rest of the Pack
In addition to the common droids produced by the major manufacturers, there are many
droids that are difficult to classify for a number of reasons. Some droids are so ancient
that any verifiable information and records on their manufacturers has long been lost in the
annals of history. One such droid, known as Vuffi Raa, is the sole surviving product of an
ancient alien species that was wiped out by a sudden radiation storm. Another unique droid,
Gorm the Dissolver, is part droid, part organic and contains body parts from six alien species.
Besides the few established droid companies, most alien species lack the resources and sales
channels to market droids widely. This discrimanatory fact was even more pronounced during the
bigoted rule of Emperor Palpatine. Information on other alien manufacturers is unknown due to
inadequate intelligence from the Unkown Regions.
Source -- "Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Droids" by Daniel Wallace
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