3PO-series protocol droid

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"I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations."

―C-3PO^[3]

The 3PO-series protocol droid was a Human-cyborg relations protocol droid produced by Cybot Galactica. The model series had very similar aesthetic design in its casing to other Cybot Galactica droid model series such as the TC-series, 3PX-series, and 5YQ-series protocol droids.

One of the most famous droids of this series was C-3PO, one of the heroes of the Rebel Alliance.

Description

3PO-series droids had a bipedal humanoid design, standing 1.7 meters in height.^[2] It incorporated a C-Family Protocol Head, C-Family Protocol torso, a Versatile Humanoid Biped Unit, arms and hands. Typical 3PO units weighed around 77.6 kilograms and had a maximum walking speed of twenty-one kilometers an hour.^[4]

Each droid was equipped with a SyntheTech AA-1 VerboBrain. The brain's advanced neural network and superior cognition allowed 3PO units to parse content and process numbers with ease. The VerboBrain gave 3PO units the ability to develop genuine emotions and allowed original personalities to emerge. However, these personalities were often nervous, flighty, and borderline neurotic,^[2] and tended to be subservient and service oriented.^[1] Cybot Galactica were forced to add creativity dampers to the droid to ensure that their translations were unembellished. The company also recommended regular memory wipes to prevent 3PO units from developing personality quirks.^[2]

A TranLang III communications module allowed 3PO units to be fluent in over six million forms of communication. The droid's vocabulator could replicate any sound it heard with the correct intonation and timbre, allowing it to communicate directly. However, the droid's humanoid-shaped chassis did limit its ability to duplicate alien sign language, such as the subtle movements used by the Twi'lek when communicating with their lekku. They also had the skills necessary to quickly analyze new unregistered languages and translate them.^[2]

3PO units were equipped with photoreceptors, auditory pickups, broadband antenna receivers, microwave detector, and olfactory sensors. The primary circuit breaker was conveniently located at the back of their neck, on a very easy to reach place.^[2]

Droids in the 3PO-series came in a variety of colors, the most usual being gold, silver and white. They required frequent oil baths to ensure that their joints and couplings remained in good working condition. ^[2] 3PO units retailed for 3,000 credits on the open market.^[1]

Role

3PO units were experts in communication, etiquette, customs, religious rituals, and other similar fields. They were widely employed by senators, ambassadors, politicians, consuls, and royalty, acting as translators, diplomatic attachés and aides.^[2]

3PO units were among the most humanlike droids ever produced. Sentientologist and linguistic researchers found that the 3PO's ability to analyze patterns to decipher unknown languages made the droid an invaluable tool to their research.^[2]

History

Cybot Galactica began producing 3PO-style droids well over a century prior to the Galactic Civil War^[5] on droid factory worlds such as Affa.^[6] The success of the line led Cybot Galactica to release several "boutique" models, keeping the line fresh. Usually priced up at twice the cost of a standard 3PO, each new line extension showcased a technological innovation, such as memory units with larger capacities, or a more advanced vocabulator. Lines produced over the years included the TC, PX, Consul360, and ii77 models.^[5] Models such as the pricey E-3PO included the TechSpan I module, making it possible to interface with Imperial networks and undocumented technologies of Imperial subcontractors.^[7] Eventually, the technology highlighted by the new models became standard and incorporated into the mainstream 3PO model, and the line extension was retired.^[5]

The success of the 3PO-series led Cybot Galactica to produce the C-series protocol droids during the rule of the New Republic. They officially denied speculation that the series was commissioned to capitalize on the fact that C-3PO was one of the most well-known droids serving the New Republic.^[2] 3PO droids would still be in use by 137 ABY, over a century after the fall of the New Republic; with one serving as staff at the Naboo Queen restaurant by this time.^[8]

Behind the scenes

The basic shape of C-3PO, and thus the 3PO-series, was inspired by Maria, a robot in the 1927 German silent film Metropolis, and sculptress Liz Moore further developed the droid's design.^[9]