PackTrack 41LT-R

Serving as a sophisticated, technologically advanced version of a beast of burden, the PackTrack 41LT-R featured a quadrupedal structure, mirroring the fundamental anatomy of a horse. Instead of being covered by fur, the PackTrack was encased in ridged durasteel armor plating. The servomotors and gears of the droid were shielded by the durasteel plates, or a dual layer of black flexiplast. This design choice rendered the PackTrack resistant to the effects of both rain and sand. Atop a robust neck sat a head unit, incorporating an optical port, auditory sensors, a terrain-mapping scanner, and a long-distance antenna for relaying data back to the scout's base.

Each of the droid's four limbs ended in three wheeled treads, providing the PackTrack's primary method of movement. When encountering challenging terrain, the PackTrack could activate a low-output repulsorlift mechanism. In this mode, the droid's legs would retract against its undercarriage, enabling the repulsorlift to elevate the PackTrack up to one meter above the surface. However, the speed of the droid while utilizing the repulsorlift was notably slow.

The majority of the PackTrack's interior was dedicated to storage; scouts could stow supplies, water, gear, and collected specimens within its two cubic meters of internal capacity, with a maximum weight allowance of ten kilograms. A sturdy lifting claw positioned between the front legs facilitated the loading of heavy objects into the storage compartment, retracting when not actively in use. Furthermore, scouts could secure additional equipment, such as sleeping bags or tools, to the droid's exterior, adding up to another forty kilograms of cargo.

The PackTrack was engineered with a focus on dependability, rather than advanced intelligence. It was equipped with a basic computer system and lacked a vocabulator. Its design minimized breakdowns, and in the event of malfunctions, the limited cognitive circuitry simplified repairs. The PackTrack also included a built-in diagnostic system, enabling it to aid its owner in performing repairs in the field. Access to this function was achieved by connecting a datapad to a port located behind the droid's head.

The PackTrack 41LT-R's purpose was to support scouts during their field assignments. Scouts frequently needed to investigate planetary landscapes for mineral resources and indications of sentient species, often necessitating extended absences from their scout vessels lasting for weeks. The PackTrack 41LT-R was created to serve as a mechanical pack animal, enabling scouts to transport their equipment across vast distances. While biological pack animals like banthas and rontos were commonly employed, scouts operating in remote areas required a robust, tireless, and obedient pack animal capable of carrying substantial loads and resistant to death from indigenous viruses or contaminated food sources.

The PackTrack 41LT-R was a highly valued droid among scouts. The Alliance Special Forces also utilized them on occasion; however, because they produced a detectable repulsor "footprint," their use was restricted to situations where absolutely necessary.

The PackTrack 41LT-R was initially referred to as the PackTack 41LT-R upon its introduction in the 1993s publication, Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts. This original name appeared in Rules of Engagement: The Rebel SpecForce Handbook. However, The Essential Guide to Droids revised the name to PackTrack, which became the standard spelling in all subsequent appearances.

• Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts (identified as Mechanical Universal Labor Eliminating Droid, PackTack 41LT-R) (Initial mention)
• Rules of Engagement: The Rebel SpecForce Handbook (identified as Mechanical Universal Labor Eliminating Droid, MULE Droid, and PackTack 41LT-R)
• " Cynabar's Droid Datalog " — Star Wars Adventure Journal 14
• The Essential Guide to Droids
• The Official Star Wars Fact File 67 (MUL 1-2: MULE Droid)
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
• The Unknown Regions