AI Droids, most enduring legacy of Star Wars?

November 26, 2023

AI droids may prove to be the most enduring legacy of Star Wars for humanity. Lightsabers, blasters, and faster than light spacecraft are cool, but may not materialize. The "Force" is pure mythology. Advances in medicine may someday resemble Star Wars bionic limbs and bacta cures. AI droids may be prove to be the most enduring technological inspiration from Star Wars to humanity. Droids like C3PO and R2D2 may become the norm in the future. 

The "Star Wars" science fantasy franchise is renowned for its diverse array of technologies. Some of the technologies and concepts featured in Star Wars are feasible. Others are probably impossible because they violate the laws of physics. 

AI droids are totally feasible. Humans have them already and they will continue improving in the upcoming decades and centuries. Travel at speeds faster than the "speed of light" is theoretically impossible based on the laws of physics as humans know them today. The "speed of light" is actually the maximum speed of anything in the universe, and can only be attained by massless particles such as photons (the quanta particles of light). According to special relativity, to accelerate anything (massive or massless) faster than the speed of light would require adding an infinite amount of energy, which is theoretically impossible because you can never reach infinity by definition. Plasma weapons such as the lightsabers used by Jedi and Sith, and the "blasters" used by everyone else in Star Wars, are feasible, but may prove impractical due to the high energy involved. Advanced medicine with bionic limbs are possible. 

AI Droids

The "Star Wars" universe is replete with AI droids, each with its unique characteristics and roles. They have varying degrees of autonomy and complexity. Notable examples include the following:

• R2-D2: Arguably the most famous droid in the "Star Wars" universe, R2-D2 is a brave and resourceful astromech droid. He plays a crucial role in aiding the protagonists throughout the saga, from carrying Princess Leia's message in "A New Hope" to supporting the Rebel Alliance and later the Resistance.
• C-3PO: A protocol droid fluent in over six million forms of communication, C-3PO is known for his polite and often anxious demeanor. Built by Anakin Skywalker, he frequently serves as a comic foil to R2-D2's adventurous spirit.
• BB-8: A newer addition to the "Star Wars" droid roster, BB-8 is an astromech droid introduced in "The Force Awakens." With his spherical design and endearing personality, BB-8 quickly became a fan favorite.
• Darth Vader's Probe Droids: These droids, especially the one featured in "The Empire Strikes Back," are used for reconnaissance. The Probe Droid dispatched to Hoth was instrumental in locating the Rebel base.
• K-2SO: Featured in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," K-2SO is a reprogrammed Imperial security droid. He is known for his blunt manner of speaking and his loyalty to the Rebel cause.
• IG-88: An assassin droid who appears in "The Empire Strikes Back" as one of the bounty hunters hired by Darth Vader. Though his screen time is limited, his distinctive design has made him a cult favorite.
• L3-37: Appearing in "Solo: A Star Wars Story," L3-37 is a self-modified pilot and navigation droid with a strong personality and a passion for droid rights.
• Mouse Droids: These small, box-shaped droids are often seen scurrying around the corridors of Imperial installations. They are used for various tasks, including delivering messages and maintenance.
• Battle Droids: Including the B1 and B2 models, these droids were heavily used by the Separatists during the Clone Wars. They are known for their numbers rather than their effectiveness.
• Droidekas (Destroyer Droids): Also used by the Separatists in the Clone Wars, these droids are notable for their shields and rapid-fire blaster cannons.
• Chopper (C1-10P): A main character in the animated series "Star Wars Rebels," Chopper is a grumpy, war-torn astromech droid with a quirky personality.

Each of these droids adds depth and richness to the "Star Wars" universe, showing a range of personalities and functionalities that contribute to the saga’s enduring appeal.

Plasma Weaponry

Lightsabers and blasters are the iconic weapons in the Star Wars universe. Although many believe that the Star Wars weapons are based on laser technology, they are based on plasma technology. Lasers are light beams. Laser stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". Lasers emit a directionally concentrated beam of light, with all of the photons in the beam acting as a wave front launching in unison. Plasma is the fourth state of matter (following solid, liquid, and gas) and is generated by extreme heat energy. Plasma is so hot that atoms break apart in electrically charged charged particles that generate a powerful electromagnetic field.

• Lightsabers are the iconic plasma swords used by the Jedi and the Sith, masters of the "Force". The Force is a mystical and omnipresent energy that can be harnessed by individuals that are born sensitive to it. The Force grants various abilities like telekinesis, mind control, enhanced physical abilities, and, in some cases, foresight. Lightsabers are made of pure  Lightsabers cut through almost anything and deflect blaster bolts. Lightsabers are sometimes called "laser swords" by those who are unfamiliar with their plasma composition.  
• Blasters. Blaster weapons are the common firearms in the Star Wars universe. They come in different forms like pistols, rifles, and heavy artillery. They are used by almost everyone who is not a Sith or a Jedi. They often called lasers, but this is a slang misconception because what they blast is plasma. The plasma is created when a power cell excites high-energy gas. The plasma is then fired through the barrel's collimating components. Blasters are different from human guns because they don't fire physical bullets, but rather plasma beams. The plasma "bullets" are slower than the bullets in human firearms because they can be seen traveling. Although slower they can be stronger and more destructive than human firearm bullets. 

Transportation

The Star Wars universe features a wide array of imaginative spacecraft, each with its unique design and role within the story. Some of them travel at speeds faster than the speed of light. These spaceships range from small fighters to massive capital ships. Some notable examples include the following:

• Millennium Falcon: One of the most famous spacecraft in the "Star Wars" universe, this Corellian freighter is piloted by Han Solo and Chewbacca. Known for its speed and smuggling compartments, it plays a crucial role in several pivotal moments in the series.
• X-Wing Starfighters: These are the primary fighters used by the Rebel Alliance and later the Resistance. They are known for their distinctive "X"-shaped wing configuration when in attack mode.
• TIE Fighters: Short for Twin Ion Engine, these are the primary fighters used by the Galactic Empire. They are recognizable by their unique hexagonal wings and high-pitched roar.
• Imperial Star Destroyers: These massive capital ships are the backbone of the Imperial fleet, known for their wedge shape. The most famous of these is the "Executor," Darth Vader's flagship.
• The Death Star: A moon-sized space station with a planet-destroying superlaser. The destruction of the first Death Star is a major plot point in "A New Hope," and a second Death Star appears in "Return of the Jedi."
• Slave I: The distinctive ship of the bounty hunter Boba Fett. It has a unique shape and is equipped with a variety of weapons and tracking devices.
• AT-ATs and AT-STs: While not spacecraft, these All Terrain Armored Transports and All Terrain Scout Transports are significant vehicles in the Empire's arsenal, used in ground assaults.
• Y-Wing Starfighters: Older fighter-bomber ships used by the Rebel Alliance, notable for their durability and for having a large payload capacity for bombs and torpedoes.
• A-Wing Starfighters: The fastest fighters in the Rebel fleet, known for their speed and agility, though they are lightly armored.
• B-Wing Starfighters: These are heavily armed Rebel fighters with a unique rotating cockpit and an asymmetrical design.
• The Mon Calamari Cruisers: Ships like the "Home One," Admiral Ackbar's flagship, are distinctive for their organic, non-Imperial design and are vital to the Rebel fleet.
• Imperial Shuttle: Notably the Lambda-class shuttle, used for transport and known for its tri-wing design (one vertical stabilizer and two folding wings).
• Star Destroyer: One of the most powerful vessels in the Imperial Navy, these ships are used for their firepower and as a base of operations.
• Naboo Starfighter: Known for its sleek design and chrome finish, used in "The Phantom Menace" during the Battle of Naboo.

Besides spacecraft, Star Wars features other vehicles and platforms, some of which include repulsorlift technology that allows for hovering or flying short distances. Examples include speeder bikes and landspeeders. Star Wars also features huge space stations such as the Death Star, a moon-sized space station with planet-destroying capabilities. Some spacecraft and devices feature energy shields that can deflect or absorb the energy from attacks. 

Medicine and other technologies

Regarding medical technologies, Star Wars features "bacta" as a liquid that accelerates healing and bionic limbs (cybernetics). Bacta tanks are used to treat severe injuries. Bionic limbs and advanced prosthetics are commonplace in the Star Wars universe, with characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader having robotic hands and limbs. Although not entirely medical, there is also carbonite freezing that can freeze characters for transportation. As a final example worthy of mentioning, Star Wars also features holographic communication. Characters often communicate over long distances using holograms, a form of 3D projection technology. 

Star Wars technologies have had a significant impact on popular culture and have inspired humans to research and develop similar technological advancements. For instance, AI droids and advanced prosthetics have seen considerable progress in the modern world, drawing inspiration from "Star Wars".

While intergalactic travel faster that the speed of light, colonization of exoplanets, and interaction with alien civilizations may remain forever in the realm of science fantasy, other Star Wars innovations will most likely become as ubiquitous in the human world as in the Star Wars universe. Chances are that in the near or at least not so distant future, planet Earth will be replete with AI droids and with bionically enhanced humans just like seen in the Star Wars movies. 

Creatix.one, AI for everyone.