The Essential Guide to Droids (Page 6-7)
Astromech: P2 and R1
[edit]The P2 and R1 models were Industrial Automaton's first stabs at creating a new line of consumer-market astromechs. Though both droids were modest hits in their day, with the benefit of hindsight they appear as awkward baby steps compared to the giant leap forward that was the R2.
The P2 was an astromech prototype, sold exclusively to the Old Republic merchant fleet on a trial basis. Massive, cumbersome, and sluggish, it nevertheless showcased many of the sleek design features that would become common with later models in the R series. The droid had three wheeled legs, a rotating head dome, and retractable manipulator arms that folded into a cylindrical armored hull.
Sporting a primitive version of the Intellex ship-configuration computer, the P2 made a capable maintenance unit for bulk cruisers and container vessels, while its buzzsaw and laser welder helped it perform simple repair jobs. But the droid was clumsy, slow to learn, and could only communicate through its video display screen or a computer link.
Most captains, however, were pleased with the units. IA was finalizing plans to publicly release the P2 when they were slapped with a technology infringement lawsuit. Though the case was eventually dropped, legal delays and bad publicity killed the P2 line. IA was forced to start fresh.
The R1 was a natural evolution of the P2, despite its unconventional appearance. To save costs during its draining courtroom battles, IA reused the tall, black body shells from its Mark II Reactor Drone series. This gave the R1 natural shielding against the most intensive radiation.
Each R1 possessed an advanced Intellex III computer, containing a detailed catalog of 500 starship configurations. Furthermore, the droid was the first IA astromech with the ability to calculate navigational coordinates for a single hyperspace jump.
Due to their size, most R 1 s were stationed aboard Capital warships and large freighters. Their array of retractable tools turned them into adequate technicians, but many buyers complained about the droids' obstinate personalities and lethargic method of locomotion treaded unipod, which frequently broke down and stranded the unit in one spot. IA promised to address these concerns in their next model.
One major breakthrough introduced with the R1 was the beeping, whistling electronic language known as Droidspeak. This information dense vernacular allowed R1s to communicate efficiently with other droids and data networks and would soon be recognized as a distinctive and endearing hallmark of the entire R series.
Info Boxes
[edit]P2 Astromech Droid - Front View
[edit]- Heavy Grasper Arm
- Function Indicators
- Auditory Sensors
- Radar Eye
- Sensor Package
- Third Tread (retracted)
- Power Cells
- Motorized Treads
- Buzz Saw (retracted)
- Mainframe Connection Socket
- Folding Work Arms
R1 Astromech Droid - Side View
[edit]- Mark II Reactor Drone Shell
- Sensor Package
- Access Panels
- Comlink Antenna
- Treaded Unipod
- Binary Acoustic Signaler
- Video Display Screen (behind panel)
- Retractable Manipulator Repair Arms (behind panels)
- Rotation Point