A type of Droid found in the fictional Star Wars universe, Probe droids, also known as Probots are basically automated reconnaisance and information-gathering vehicles. They can be launched in special pods over great distances and will land on their intended target, usually a planet. Upon landing the droid will unfold from its pod and begin collecting information from the immediate area using it's sensor pod (usually mounted on the top) and manipulator arms and instruments (Usually mounted on the bottom). Whether such information should be for scientific, military or any other application then usually defines its subsequent actions. Military probe droids such as those applied by the Empire (Especially in Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back, when Darth Vader had several thousand launched to search for the Rebellion) will seek out any hostile presence, mapping enemy positions and avoiding detection for as long as possible and usually self-destructing if discovered. Scientific or economic probe droids will probably continue gathering information for their entire service life, as probe droids are incapable of interstellar flight (using repulsorlifts for locomotion) and are usually launched in one-way pods. The collected data is transmitted regularly to pre-programmed coordinates using some communications method not extensively explained, at a speed far greater than the speed of light. The first probe droids since the founding of the Galactic Republic were made by Galalloy Industries, but by the time of the films the leading producer, especially to the Imperial militaries, was Arakyd Industries. The probe droids appearing in the films are all Arakyd Industries Viper series military probe droids, carrying blaster cannons for self defense.