The Decon III represented a specific model within Industrial Automaton's Decon series, functioning as a type of decon droid. Its designation, "Decon," served as an abbreviation for "decontamination droid."
The Decon III droid possessed a stocky, box-like form, with a height of 1.3 meters. The Galactic Republic deployed these droids during colonization efforts to aid in terraforming worlds with hazardous ecosystems. Their purpose involved filtering out lethal alien bacteria. Equipped with visual, infrared, and analytical sensors, these droids communicated solely through binary via their vocabulators. Certain Decon III variants utilized treads for locomotion, while others employed four legs. All models included a single, retractable manipulator arm.
These droids incorporated a robust front shovel designed for scooping soil, with each "bite" collecting roughly a quarter of a cubic meter. The gathered soil entered an intake hopper, proceeding through a four-stage sequence of purification chambers. These chambers featured catalytic processors that neutralized any hazardous contaminants, rendering the soil suitable for planting. The processed soil was then discharged from the Decon III via a rear chute. The processing speed varied depending on the level of contamination, but most units could treat approximately three kilograms of topsoil per hour.
A specialized version of the Decon III was stationed on the majority of long-range starships to handle radiation emergencies. In the event of widespread radiation exposure, these units would activate chemical spray hoses, saturating cabins, decks, and bulkheads with radiation-absorbing foam. The droids would then collect the contaminated foam and process it in a manner similar to contaminated soil.
Initially, the Galactic Republic employed these droids during their colonization initiatives. The Galactic Empire also utilized Decon III droids, notably during the "purification" of Honoghr, a world devastated by the Separatist bioweapon Trihexalophine1138. This bioweapon had been accidentally unleashed from a wrecked Lucrehulk-class Core Ship during the Battle of Honoghr during the Clone Wars. Prior to this event, the Noghri of Honoghr had pledged allegiance to the Empire, serving as assassins until their planet was cleansed.
To maintain the Noghri's subservience, the Imperials introduced a hybrid grass to Honoghr, which eradicated the remaining vegetation. Subsequently, they provided the suffering Noghri with modified Decon III units that cleared the grass at an exceptionally slow pace. Following the conclusion of the Thrawn Crisis in 9 ABY, the Noghri aligned themselves with the New Republic, who furnished them with standard Decon III droids. However, the ecological damage inflicted upon Honoghr was so extensive that it compelled the remaining Noghri to resettle on other planets, including Wayland. Both sides would also deploy Decon III units to reclaim dying planets ravaged by the Galactic Civil War.