Droid

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This is the concept of the "droid" in science fiction. For the Star Wars animated series, see Star Wars: Droids.

The term droid refers to a kind of robot, specifically intelligent robots as seen in the fictional Star Wars universe. Famous droids include R2-D2 and C-3PO. Less famous droids in the Star Wars saga include: 2-1B medic, EV-9D9, the Trade Federation battle droid and super battle droid, Imperial probe droid, K-3PO, HK-47, and the IG-88s.

Droids are used for many different purposes. Astromech droids (or Astrodroids) such as R2-D2 are used aboard starship for myriad purposes, including repair work. Protocol droids like C-3P0 are used for diplomatic affairs and for translating. The two leading droid manufacturers are Cybot Galactica and Industrial Automaton.

The word "droid" originated as a contraction of "android"; in the novelization of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope the word was spelled with an apostrophe ("'droid"), a convention that has since been dropped. It is used to describe just about any robot, even those not humanoid in appearance. Some droids do, however, exhibit human-like behavior; for example, they may react emotionally and think intelligently and self-reflectively.

It is widely believed that the hostility shown towards droids in Episodes IV-VI is a result of animosity as droids led the armies of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the group widely (but erroneously) believed to be responsible for the Clone Wars. Expanded Universe authors have also attributed it to the Empire's general xenophobia and anti-alien bias; interestingly, even the Jedi (especially Obi-Wan Kenobi) seem to hold droids in low esteem, possibly because the droids have essentially no presence in the Force, but can be manipulated by way of the Force (see Irek Ismaren).

1 Types of Droids or Fictional Mechanical Beings
2 Trademark
3 Quotes
4 See also
5 External links

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Types of Droids or Fictional Mechanical Beings

Android- A robot created to mimic the appearance of a human being. While one of the most common in fiction, it is by no means the most common in Star Wars, especially the original trilogy
Cyborg- A mechanical being with both both mechanical and biological parts, unless those biological parts are synthetic or machines themselves (such as those of Cell from Dragonball Z). This term is generally used for humans who have been operated on and had mechanical parts attached, instead of robots made with biological parts.
Synthoid- A robot that is either in the production state (not fully created) or is in such disrepair that it has the appearance of a production stage droid/wireframe.

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Trademark

George Lucas holds a trademark on the term "droid". The miniature mecha combat wargame BattleTech was originally released under the name BattleDroids, but was renamed due to trademark issues with Lucasfilm.

Pixar Animation Studios' film The Incredibles (2004) contains a reference to Lucasfilm's droid with the large weapon of destruction, the Omnidroid. The credits of the film give a nod to Lucasfilm.

An apparently unrelated killer droid of the same name also appears in Star Wars Galaxies.

From Mickey News [1] (25 November 2004):

For some viewers that feeling lasts through the closing credits, where a notice that the term "Omnidroid" was used by permission of Lucasfilm Ltd. has prompted some fans to speculate that The Incredibles offers a sneak peak at a character from the next Star Wars film.

"No. No, no, no," Bird says with a laugh, when asked if the secret weapon has a secret of its own. "I like that they think that, but it's more the term 'droid' is Lucas and we made the term Omnidroid (and then got the OK as a courtesy). So, no, there's no sneak. But God bless those fans. They're crazy."

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Quotes

"Well, if droids could think, there'd be none us of here, would there?" - Obi-Wan Kenobi, Attack of the Clones
"We seem to be made to suffer; it's our lot in life." - C-3PO, A New Hope
"...I'm merely a droid, and not very knowledgeable..." - C-3PO, A New Hope
"Should be easy to find. Even for those droids in your archives." - Dex, "Attack of the Clones"
"Flying is for droids." - Obi-Wan Kenobi, "Revenge of the Sith"