RX-series pilot droid

RX-series pilot droids were a line of droids designed and manufactured by the companies Industrial Automaton and Reubens Robotic Systems. With a squat, cylindrical chassis that terminated in a flared repulsorlift base for locomotion, RX-series pilot droids used their three clawed limbs to manipulate starship controls and fly vessels. Units commonly featured brushed metal chassis with colored accents. A helmet-like head topped each RX pilot droid, and a humanoid faceplate—sporting two glowing photoreceptors and a speaker—enabled the droids to more easily interact with organics. RX units were capable of operating independently to pilot starships, especially in tasks that organic pilots found too dull or repetitive to bother with, such as docking and undocking spacecraft, maneuvering cargo between vessels, and piloting passenger craft along well-traveled hyperlanes. The droids' programming also made them apt copilots and support personnel. They were renowned for their toughness and reliability, although when an RX-series droid failed, it did so spectacularly. A heuristic processor afforded RX units the ability to creatively solve problems, and when spared from memory wipes, they tended to develop chipper personalities that allowed them to better interface with living beings.

Industrial Automaton and Reubens Robotic Systems introduced the RX-series pilot droid to the galactic market by approximately 22 BBY. The companies' goal was to create a hybrid astromech–protocol droid that could not only assist in spaceship piloting and maintenance but also easily interface with organics. The droids proved a success, with most spaceports purchasing a few RX units from the line. RX droids saw service during the Clone Wars, as when the Galactic Republic Commander Griebs Kishpaugh employed the unit Z-37 to pilot his shuttle. The Star Tours passenger liner service purchased a crew of RX-series droids to pilot its StarSpeeder 3000 spacecraft on its short-lived service to the Forest Moon of Endor. One of those droids, designated RX-24, piloted the initial Star Tours Flight 45 to Endor, but the novice's errors sent his craft through a series of misadventures before returning safely to their point of departure.

Text and facts from the “RX-series pilot droid/Legends” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.