The Marksman-H combat remote, also known by the names seeker droid and training remote, functioned as a remote for military training exercises. This device, produced by Industrial Automaton, incorporated non-lethal blasters to ensure the safety of those being trained.
Marksmen commonly employed the remote, which moved with speed and unpredictability, to sharpen their reflexes and improve their aiming precision. Typically, light-only blasts were used when shooting at these remotes to prevent damage. Furthermore, many bounty hunters and smugglers utilized remotes to hone their quick-draw abilities. The most well-known example is Han Solo, who owned and trained with a Marksman-H model training remote.
The Marksman-H combat remote represented a specific model of remote that was created by Industrial Automaton. This spherical device, which cost 350 credits, had a diameter of thirty-two centimeters and featured a covering of laser emitters, sensors, and maneuvering thrusters. The Marksman-H possessed a basic computer for a brain, a sensor array with a short range, and low-level deflector shields. A handheld signaler emitting coded bursts at a high pitch controlled the unit, though a verbal override code could be used in urgent situations.
A small repulsorlift generator was integrated into the remote's internal structure, enabling the Marksman-H to achieve a maximum speed of twenty-five kilometers per hour. Its eight maneuvering thrusters gave the remote a high level of maneuverability, facilitating rapid adjustments in height, sharp turns, and quick changes in acceleration and deceleration. The emitter nozzles on the Marksman-H were adaptable, capable of releasing various substances such as compressed air, stun blasts, non-lethal gases, light beams, or even audio signals.
The Marksman-H served as a tool for training snipers and enhancing their capabilities. The blaster used by the sharpshooter would be adjusted to emit only light, and the unit's sensors would register any hits. The remote's computer came pre-loaded with numerous combat exercises, designed to conclude either after a set duration or once a specific number of hits were recorded.
The Marksman-H was capable of running drills that ranged from beginner levels, characterized by slow movement and disabled stun blaster, to advanced levels, where the remote would actively evade the trainee while attempting to strike them with stun blasts. Training sessions could advance through these levels, progressively increasing the intensity and accuracy of the stun blasts. Beyond its use in blaster combat training, Marksman-H remotes were also effective in lightsaber instruction, requiring trainees to deflect numerous stun blasts while seeking an opportunity to attack.
The laser emitters were essentially stun blasters that could be adjusted to various intensity levels, ranging from a minor discharge causing a momentary tingle to a more potent discharge capable of numbing an arm or leg. In some instances, the blast could even render a person unconscious. The blasters had an effective range of four meters and a maximum range of thirty-five. The firing rate was determined by the remote's difficulty setting, with the unit capable of firing twice per second at the highest level. The blaster's precision also varied, becoming extremely accurate as the difficulty increased.
During the era of the Galactic Republic, Jedi younglings utilized these remotes to practice Form I/Shii-Cho. Specifically, Yoda supervised the younglings' use of these devices when Obi-Wan Kenobi approached them for assistance in locating Kamino. However, certain versions were adapted for actual combat use in the event of an attack on the Jedi Temple, as seen during Operation: Knightfall.
Furthermore, they were deployed as targets on shooting ranges for the training of clone sharpshooters during the Clone Wars.
Following the birth of the Galactic Empire, several Marksman-H combat remotes were modified to perform executions on enemies of the Empire. These execution droids would patrol populated areas, scanning for enemies of the Empire by cross-referencing identities against a database of known targets. Once located, these targets would be immediately executed.
The smuggler Han Solo maintained a Marksman-H aboard the Millennium Falcon for use in target practice. While en route to Alderaan, Luke Skywalker began his lightsaber training under Obi-Wan Kenobi using the remote. Skywalker struggled to anticipate the remote's actions, so Kenobi obscured his vision with a helmet fitted with an opaque blast shield, encouraging him to rely on the Force rather than sight. After some additional practice, he succeeded in deflecting the droid's weapon fire.
The training remote that Luke uses for practice in A New Hope was originally envisioned as an automated execution droid employed by the Empire.