Viper probe droid / Legends The Viper probe droid , commonly referred to as the probot or Imperial probe droid , was a deep - space exploration and reconnaissance probe droid produced by Arakyd Industries . The Viper model was based on the success of Galalloy Industries ' early probe droids . The design of the probot also relied heavily on the work of Viper Sensor Intelligence Systems , a corporation acquired by Arakyd during the Clone Wars . Though they were used almost exclusively by the military , they were considered class two exploration droid s . Specifications . The lightly - armored Viper droid measured 1 . 6 meters in height with six manipulator arms extending from a central pod and several retractable sensor arms for gathering samples . High resolution receivers and sensors covered the domed head — including motion , acoustic , sonic , and seismic sensors , a radiation meter , magnetic imager , and holocamera . It had an atmosphere sensor capable of determining a planet ' s atmosphere class within one half - hour . It moved on a repulsorlift generator which was equipped to operate over any terrain . One of the arms was high - torque , and the droid was equipped with a floodlight on its head . In addition , when making transmissions , the probe droid emitted a audio encrypted imperial computer code set of an unknown serial number . Information was relayed back to its superiors via a high - frequency HoloNet transceiver . Its repulsorlift engines carried the droid across terrain at up to 40 km / h , while the arms gathered samples . Vipers were delivered to their targets through single - use custom built hyperspace pods . They were commonly deployed along the perimeters of key strategic star systems and hyperlane s to act as automated guardians . Typically , a Viper probe droid cost 14 , 500 credits . They were capable of being deployed from Galactic Empire Command Center s . History . Arakyd probe droids were originally designed for use by the Galactic Republic in survey and exploration duty , but when the Republic was transformed into the Galactic Empire , Arakyd modified their probots with military - level sensors and equipment , and marketed them as Viper probe droids . This was not the first time Arakyd probots had been upgraded for warfare , however , as the Confederacy of Independent Systems had employed a number of upgraded probots during the invasion of Kashyyyk during the Clone Wars . Viper probots in service with the Empire were upgraded under the direct supervision of Darth Vader , and featured a blaster cannon , a self - destruct mechanism , and , in some cases , deflector shields . Many thousands of the Imperial Viper probe droids were manufactured on Mechis III , and were in production when the rogue assassin droid IG - 88 took control of the planet ' s automated factories . IG - 88 included a secondary set of programming into the Viper droids to relay any obtained intelligence back to Mechis III , as well as to the Empire . Thus , they simultaneously served as the eyes and ears of the Droid Revolution . The Imperial Intelligence ' s Analysis Bureau also used them as remote surveillance droids posted largely in the Outer Rim Territories . In conflict zones , probots often worked alongside the Imperial Navy to monitor traffic and provide early warnings of attack . They could also be programmed to engage pursuit mode , whereupon the Viper would track an enemy vessel and report back on its location and destination . Arakyd ' s success with the military model of the Viper yielded the C - Viper probe droid variant designed for planetary law enforcement organizations , the Infiltrator probe droid for sabotage missions , and the Hunter - Killer probot . Shortly after the Battle of Tatooine , the Empire dispatched various probe droids to Tatooine in an attempt to recover the stolen plans for the Death Star . Six months after the Battle of Yavin , the Galactic Empire sent a detachment of probe droids to root out Rebel Commander Luke Skywalker . They were destroyed by Skywalker and Rogue Squadron . Probe droids were also used to scout ahead for Imperial strike forces , including during the Reytha campaign and the battle at Corellia , or were sent on search missions like at Chorax . Several were also dispatched to Dantooine as security measures while the Imperials arrived on the planet to detain the defecting Imperial officer Tycho Celchu . Locating Echo Base . Following the Battle of Yavin , the Empire committed thousands of these modified probe droids to scour the galaxy for hidden Alliance to Restore the Republic bases , specifically the Alliance High Command headquarters . They even went as far as to provide bounty hunters with remote request devices to search out targets moving from planet to planet . It was an Arakyd Viper , launched from the " Imperial II " - class Star Destroyer " Stalker " , that landed on the ice planet Hoth and discovered the Rebellion ' s Echo Base . Upon landing on the frozen world , the probe droid appeared to the casual onlooker , and even the base ' s sensor readings , as one of many meteorites streaking to Hoth ' s surface . During a routine patrol of the Hoth wastes , Luke Skywalker intended to inspect the crash site , but was attacked by a wampa ice creature , and never learned what had really crashed to the ground . Thus , the Hoth probe droid was free to continue on its programmed mission . Immediately upon emerging from its hyperspace pod , the probe detected a faint comm signal on non - Imperial bandwidths . This indicated to the droid the presence of an unregistered , and possibly Rebel , settlement . Since it had not yet gathered enough conclusive evidence to report , the droid moved away from the nearby signal in order that it might avoid contact until such time as self - preservation no longer became necessary . Soon after moving away from its first contact , the probe droid vectored in on the detected signal ' s probable destination point , triangulating from its last known position . A long time passed where the droid made no contact with the signal whatsoever , so it continued to search . During the night blizzard that threatened the lives of Skywalker and Han Solo , the probe detected and destroyed a wampa with its powerful blaster cannon . Only with the most advanced Imperial sensor technology was the probe able to detect a wampa in a blizzard whiteout . As the blizzard raged into the night , the probe activated its modified power - intensive particle shield to protect it from the thick snow hazard . In the early hours of the next morning , the probe ceased operation entirely , shunting its energy to its shield . The droid reappeared when the sun rose , cresting the rise of a snow bank in Echo Base ' s Zone 12 . There , it detected the presence of a large deflector shield generator . It immediately began audio - visual recording of the contact . Following its programming , the droid then beamed , on omnisignal unicode , a transmission via its HoloNet transceiver concerning its find to Vader ' s personal flagship , the Star Dreadnought " Executor " . This information was privately received simultaneously by IG - 88 back on Mechis III . Vader decided from this information that the Hoth system was indeed the location of the Rebel base , and he ordered his Death Squadron there in preparation of a full - scale ground assault . With the initial contact reported , the probe continued on its mission . It proceeded to meticulously map out the Echo Base defenses , including the surrounding trenches , artillery emplacements , and even the size , model , and location of the v - 150 anti - orbital ion cannon , as well as observing troop movements and positions . This information was received by General Maximilian Veers . He and his commanders used this invaluable tactical information to plan the attack , a testament to the Empire ' s incredible preparedness during the Battle of Hoth . Before the probe had a chance to implement its " sabotage and disruption " programming , the Echo Base command center received a transmission from Echo Station 3 - 8 . The scout outpost had detected a metal object skimming through the icy wastes . The probe droid was discovered . The probe then proceeded to completely destroy the outpost and the scout within it with its blaster , turning it into a smoldering ruin . Solo and the Wookiee Chewbacca were dispatched to deal with the spy machine . The probe detected the approach of its two enemy assailants , but it was no match for them . The probe was soon trapped despite its evasive maneuvers . After a quick game of " decoy , " Solo blasted the confused probe . Solo ' s shots were only meant to disable the probe ' s motor functions , intending to take the droid intact , but its override programming kicked in and the probe immediately self - destructed . Although the probe attempted to destroy itself , its self - destruct programming had apparently been at least marginally affected by either the frigid Hoth temperatures or the damage that was inflicted on it upon entering the Hoth system . The probe was almost destroyed entirely , though enough of it was left for Solo to retrieve and bring back to the base for memory scan . The base technicians and Alliance historian Voren Na ' al were able to piece together some of the probe ' s memory circuits and learn many details concerning its particular mission experiences . Na ' al used much of this data to help compile his subsequent reports on the history of the Rebellion during this period . Other probe droids were used during the actual Battle to locate Rebel installations . In 14 ABY the Jedi Jaden Korr encountered probe droids used by the Imperial Remnant on his scouting mission on Hoth . Behind the scenes . One of artist designs was used for the probe droid in " The Empire Strikes Back " . Later Star Wars films also share many visual characteristics with Giraud ' s work , particularly the depiction of Coruscant . The film THX 1138 features numerous radio voices that sound strikingly similar to and likely influenced the strange electronic voice of the probe droid in " Empire " . " " explains that Imperial probe droids are equipped with small hyperdrives , enabling them to scout the galaxy without needing to be deployed by capital ships , for use in the video game . This serves as the game - mechanics explanation for the absence of the Predator I Probe - Mate jump pod in " Star Wars : Rebellion " , which is the Viper probe droid ' s mode of hyperspace transportation . Probe droids also appear in the 2006 video game " , " a humorous take on the original trilogy in LEGO form . The game is also included in its 2007 . It should be noted that the main image used on this article is a picture of the damaged model from the Lucasfilm Archives , with its right antenna bent slightly to the left .