The R-H029 sifter droid was a fifth-degree sifter droid model, notable for its gray coloring and sand vacuum-head. Possessing four ambulatory struts for locomotion, it exceeded the height of a fully grown human.
A specific droid of this type operated at the Resistance base situated on the planet D'Qar amidst the conflict between the Resistance and the First Order. In 34 ABY of the [year](/article/standard_year], it was positioned near the landing area of the Millennium Falcon, a YT-1300 light freighter, during the final preparations for the Resistance's attack targeting the Starkiller Base superweapon of the First Order.
The R-H029 sifter droid made its initial appearance in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, a 2015 film belonging to the sequel trilogy. While the droid's identity was not explicitly stated in the movie, it was later named in Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary, a companion reference book authored by Pablo Hidalgo and published alongside the film's release.
Originally, the R-H029 was envisioned as a lightweight costume for the planet Jakku, drawing inspiration from a stilt walker equipped with four extendable crutches, an idea presented by creature creative supervisor Neal Scanlan during the creature design process. Luke Fisher, a senior sculptor, created concept art for the droid on November 27, 2013.