The autonomous short-range transport (SRT) droid, also referred to as the forklift droid, functioned as a repulsorlift droid designed to move substantial amounts of cargo within expansive industrial locations, such as those found in droid manufacturing plants.
The SRT droid's construction included a dome-shaped head and a robust body, equipped with both a set of powerful lifting arms and a pair of articulated, multi-jointed lifting arms. These heavy-duty durasteel arms were fitted with securing forks to ensure cargo remained safely in place. The upper, jointed arms facilitated more delicate tasks, including basic repairs and the removal of obstacles from production lines. The droid's repulsor drive, located in its tail section, could support loads up to ten times the droid's own weight.
SRT droids were in constant use within harsh factory environments, which resulted in most original components failing within a year. Beyond transporting cargo, these droids also served as factory supervisors, monitoring production through their heat-resistant photoreceptors. The SRT units maintained constant communication with central factory computers, but their limited artificial intelligence meant they remained strictly focused on their assigned tasks.
SRT droids, created by Baktoid Combat Automata, were initially used in the very factories where they were manufactured. Numerous variations of the design emerged from various competing companies, including a Publictechnic version that incorporated a large, bin-like container instead of the flat pallet used by Baktoid. The GoCorp/Utilitech collaborative design featured a fully enclosed carrying area resembling a boxcar. Many of these droids were repurposed as garbage collectors throughout the galaxy.
SRT droids saw service within the droid factories located on Geonosis. C-3PO encountered one prior to the First Battle of Geonosis; however, the SRT droid viewed the protocol droid merely as an impediment and efficiently moved him out of the way, causing C-3PO to fall awkwardly onto a conveyor belt below.
Criminal organizations were known to exploit SRT droids by hijacking their transport routes to smuggle illegal goods within their cargo. Inspired by these methods, a squad of Advanced Recon Commandos commandeered a work crew of SRT droids during a covert operation behind enemy lines leading up to the Battle of Byblos.
Certain SRT droids were also involved in the construction of the first Death Star.