Imperial Probe Droid
Specially designed for deep space exploration, and reconnaissance, probe droids are employed in science and military applications. They gather data and transmit it to their masters over vast distances. Tenacious hunters and searchers, probe droids (or probots) have a variety of sensors, and the ones employed by the Empire are armed with powerful blasters and, in some models, shields. Most probots are launched in one-way pods which transport the droids to their target locations. Once there, they gather information. If confronted with a hazard, the droids can protect themselves. If confronted after their main mission has been completed these droids can selfdestruct.
Imperial probes are vaguely arachnid in shape, with a dark metal finish, bulbous sensor "eyes" and spindly manipulator arms. They hover along on repulsorlift engines, with their arms touching the ground to gather samples. After the Battle of Yavin, the Empire dispatched thousands of probe droids to hunt down the Rebel base. One of these droids eventually revealed the hidden base on the ice planet Hoth.
Sith Probe Droid
To help Darth Maul track down the fugitive Queen Amidala from Naboo, he employed a number of spherical, single-eyed probe droids dispatched from the Sith Infiltrator. These floating globes hovered throughout Mos Espa, attempting to ferret out any signs of the Queen and her Jedi protectors. These probe droids, controlled by a wrist-link worn by Darth Maul, reported back to the Sith Lord. Maul then soared into the Queen's landing site aboard his swift and lean Sith speeder, attacking Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Although Jinn escaped, the effectiveness of these stealthy spy droids cannot be disputed.
(from starwars.com)
