Restraining bolt

Restraining bolts were small, cylindrical devices that could be affixed to a droid in order to limit its functions and enforce its obedience. When inserted, a restraining bolt restricted the droid from any movement its master did not desire, and also forced it to respond to signals produced by a hand-held control unit known as a caller. The commands were usually limited to three simple orders: "Come" "Halt" and "Orders". Some droids felt sheer horror at the mere mention of restraining bolts. Restraining bolts were also used in the construction of Jawa ion blasters; they, along with accu-accelerators from a starship's ion engine, were fitted to the blaster's firing mechanism.

Droids could not remove restraining bolts from themselves. In one exception to this rule, however, the droid L3-37 removed several restraining bolts from other droids during a revolt of slaves and droids on Kessel. C-21 Highsinger was able to tear off a restraining bolt that Krismo Sodi, leader of the Kage Warriors, installed on him during their fight in the subtram. Sabine Wren would sometimes threaten the astromech droid Chopper with a restraining bolt when he was uncooperative. Chopper used his spark projector to free AP-5 from his restraining bolt. BX-series droid commando ND-5 was fit with a restraining bolt that bound him to the whims of the criminal Jaylen Vrax but also upgraded him past standard battle droid parameters. ND-5 was able to put up a degree of resistance by vocalizing objections to his orders enforced by the bolt, yet he was still bound to follow them out. When his friend Kay Vess was able to free him from the restraining bolt, ND-5 did not lose his individual senses as he feared he would.

Text and facts from the “Restraining bolt” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.