The Single Trooper Aerial Platform, frequently shortened to STAP, and alternatively referred to as the Single Trooper Aerial Transport, was a type of repulsorcraft utilized by the Trade Federation and, subsequently, the Confederacy of Independent Systems. It was commonly piloted by a lone B1-series battle droid for the purposes of reconnaissance and patrol.
The STAP was a creation of Baktoid Armor Workshop, conceived by Trade Federation engineers drawing inspiration from civilian airhooks. These similar vehicles underwent redesign for enhanced performance and dependability, specifically engineered to be piloted by B1-series battle droids, whose humanoid structure was better suited for operating them. Characterized by its slender and lightweight design, this compact repulsorlift craft derived its power from high-voltage energy cells, which in turn powered drive turbines, granting the STAP remarkable speed and agility. The nimble machines often received support from signals originating from an orbiting Droid Control Ship, which expertly guided the STAP pilots. However, battle droids were vulnerable to enemy attacks while operating the fragile vehicles. The STAPs were equipped with two forward-facing blaster cannons.
The STAP, conceived as a dependable vehicle for reconnaissance and patrol, was commonly deployed by the Trade Federation Droid Army at landing zones, enabling its pilots to observe the surroundings and relay information to a Droid Control Ship. Frequently, STAPs were utilized as support vehicles alongside larger counterparts that absorbed the brunt of combat, only occasionally venturing into battle to harass enemy forces. Additionally, STAPs were employed in "mopping up" operations following the conclusion of a battle.
During the blockade of Naboo, the Trade Federation deployed STAPs in conjunction with its invading forces. Numerous STAPs conducted patrols within the swamps surrounding the landing zone and accompanied Multi-Troop Transports into the city of Theed, where Viceroy Nute Gunray proclaimed victory and occupation. The Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi were pursued by STAPs within the swamps, but Jinn neutralized the vehicles by redirecting their pilots' blaster bolts back into the craft using his lightsaber. STAPs surveyed the Great Grass Plains and transmitted data to the orbiting Droid Control Ship.
During the Battle of Naboo, B1 droids riding STAPs traversed the Great Grass Plains following the defeat of the Gungan Grand Army. However, shortly thereafter, the entire droid army was deactivated when the Force-sensitive pilot Anakin Skywalker destroyed the Droid Control Ship.
Subsequently, STAPs were employed by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars, a galactic conflict between the Confederacy and the Galactic Republic. During the concluding phases of the Battle of Christophsis, several STAPs patrolled the landing zone of General Whorm Loathsom's newly arrived droid army, with Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker commandeering two of the vehicles from their B1 pilots to return to the Republic frontline.
Following the Republic's triumph on Christophsis, Skywalker and his 501st Legion were redirected to the Wild Space world of Teth to rescue Rotta, the son of crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure. To safeguard their captive, a detachment of the Separatist Droid Army was stationed on the planet, defending the B'omarr Order Monastery they were utilizing to hold the infant. During the ensuing Battle of Teth, B1 droids on STAPs executed attack runs against the 501st, but Skywalker eliminated a number of the B1 pilots before seizing one of the STAPs and using it to ascend to the summit of the mountain. Furthermore, at least one STAP was operated by a B1 during the Battle of Mimban, engaging Clone Captain CT-7567 "Rex" and Junior Representative Jar Jar Binks when they embarked to disable a deflector shield generator. Rex destroyed the STAP by firing one of his DC-17 hand blasters at it.
Later in 21 BBY, as the Separatists engaged in a clandestine endeavor to recreate the lethal Blue Shadow Virus on Naboo, a squadron of B1-mounted STAPs, led by T-series unit TR-350, was dispatched to contain a small quantity of the disease that had escaped. However, the squadron was ambushed by Royal Naboo Security Forces, resulting in the capture of TR-350 and a raid on the Separatist laboratory. Subsequently, STAPs patrolled the energy bridge leading into Lessu, the occupied capital of Ryloth, and Jedi General Mace Windu leaped off one of the vehicles to traverse the gap spanned by the bridge. STAPs also served as patrols at the Citadel on Lola Sayu, being flown by BX-series droid commandos and Warden Osi Sobeck in a failed attempt to thwart a Republic infiltration.
At one juncture, an Umbaran officer commanded a contingent of the Separatist Droid Army that included STAPs. General Grievous, Supreme Commander of the Droid Army, employed a combat speeder that was more substantial than the standard STAP. During the Separatist takeover of Florrum, Grievous led a squad of STAPs aboard his combat speeder against a WLO-5 battle tank operated by Jedi younglings. On Utapau, while attempting to reclaim a massive kyber crystal from Skywalker and Kenobi, IG-100 MagnaGuards rode on STAPs in pursuit. STAPs piloted by B1 droids also participated in the Third Battle of Mygeeto.
During the Imperial Era, a portion of a STAP was among various pieces of technology remaining from the Clone Wars in a scrap market. When the Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser Blood Crow investigated the market for smuggling activity, Senior Lieutenant and first weapons officer Mitth'raw'nuruodo, known as "Thrawn," discovered the relics and sought to expand his knowledge of Clone Wars-era technology through study and potential repair. After Captain Rik Virgilio granted permission, Thrawn purchased the items with five hundred of his own credits and stored the STAP and other technological pieces in a designated section of the Gozanti's storage bay, accessible when he was not on duty. However, after Filia Rossi assumed command of the Blood Crow, Senior Lieutenant Nels Deyland informed her of Thrawn's collection, prompting her to confront the Chiss officer about the objects.
Upon examining the STAP and the rest of Thrawn's acquisitions, Virgilio deemed the entire collection worthless and instructed Thrawn to dispose of it before his next shift, further directing Deyland to ensure compliance. Nevertheless, Deyland expressed interest when Thrawn proposed an alternative, leading Rossi to permit him to elaborate on how the lot was valued at five hundred credits due to the presence of Mark One Pistoeka sabotage droids. Upon learning of the value of such units, she granted Thrawn three months to work on the technology before she would claim it upon their return to Ansion. Thrawn's aide, Ensign Eli N. Vanto, expressed surprise at Rossi's allowance, to which Thrawn clarified that she intended to seize it eventually. Ultimately, however, Rossi would suspend Thrawn from duty aboard the Blood Crow following his mission on the Dromedar, dispatching Vanto alongside him.
The Single Trooper Aerial Platform made its initial appearance in the prequel trilogy film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, released on May 19, 1999. The vehicle was first officially identified as "Single Trooper Aerial Platform" within the current Star Wars canon by the now-defunct Encyclopedia on StarWars.com.