The R-1 recon droid served as a standard reconnaissance unit utilized by the Galactic Empire during the era of the Galactic Civil War. Arakyd Industries was responsible for its construction, basing its design on the earlier DRK-1 Dark Eye probe droid initially conceived by the Sith. This R-1 unit gained popularity among snipers, planetary stationed forces, and specialized shock trooper units. Furthermore, some of these droids ended up being used by smugglers, bounty hunters, and various independent operators.
This compact, floating droid, the R-1 recon droid from Arakyd Industries, lacked conventional tools or hands, providing it with the ability to navigate through tight spaces inaccessible to most potential targets. It possessed superior target tracking capabilities, and its integrated blaster enabled it to kill targets when necessary. This recon droid could be deployed for scouting missions, eliminating the need to risk living personnel, identifying targets for snipers or starship Orbital bombardment, locating wanted criminals, and monitoring suspicious individuals.
The R-1 recon droid incorporated an internal orbital strike beacon equipped with a powerful transmitter, though its operational range was confined to a single planet. Once activated, allied starships positioned in orbit could lock onto the beacon's signal, delivering a focused and devastating orbital strike. While not designed explicitly as a self-destruct mechanism, the droid essentially initiated an orbital strike at its own location when deploying the beacon, which it typically did not survive.
The droid's sensors exhibited a red hue and were encased in black outer plating. Classified as a fourth-degree droid, its cost was 16,000 credits. Its design was inspired by a Sith probe droid.
Arakyd began producing the R-1 droids for utilization around the time of the Clone Wars. Clone snipers employed these droids for reconnaissance and target acquisition across various battle zones. Following the Clone Wars and the rise of the Galactic Empire, these recon droids were also adopted by planetary garrisons and independent operatives, including bounty hunters.
Within the 2004 video game Star Wars: Battlefront, the sniper class is equipped with a remotely controlled recon droid, capable of blaster fire and initiating an orbital strike on its current location.
Despite the functional and aesthetic similarities among the recon droids used by each faction, the Star Wars Battlefront: Prima Official Game Guide distinguishes them as separate models. The assassin droid utilizes the Arakyd Mark IV recon droid, while the scout trooper and Rebel marksman employ the Arakyd R-4 recon droid. In contrast, the clone sharpshooter is equipped with an Arakyd R-1 recon droid. The recon droid makes a reappearance in the sequel, Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005), as part of the clone commander, MagnaGuard, and Imperial officer's equipment, though the Star Wars Battlefront II: Prima Official Game Guide identifies them all as the Arakyd Mark IV recon droid.