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Crab Droid

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officially designated the LM-432, this multi-legged combat droid was used by the Separatists to maintain control of the planet Utapau during the height of the Clone Wars. Known as the Muckraker because of its ability to swiftly move about through swampy or marshy ground, the crab droid was developed in a variety of sizes to meet the needs of any terrain. Small, one-meter-tall crab droids were deployed for surveillance, while six-meter-tall versions were employed to clear pathways through underbrush and provide tracks for infantry. Each crab droid was based on the same basic design: a six-legged automaton that could move across virtually any terrain with ease. The forelegs of the crab droid were usually equipped with heavy-duty "claws" that could be driven into bedrock, providing stability and traction. Each of the remaining four legs were equipped with pincers that could be used to move small objects or provide additional gripping power. The body of the crab droid contained its central processor, as well as photoreceptors, sensory systems and targeting computers, and a communications system. It was even believed that a specialized version of the crab droid was created with Gungan bubble wort technology to provide shield generation. Unlike many of the other combat droids used by the Separatists, the crab droids were entirely designed and developed after the onset of the Clone Wars, with the combined resources of the Confederacy of Indepenent Systems working toward their production. With the end of the Clone Wars, all crab droids were issued orders to deactivate, as part of Darth Sidious' plan to consolidate military power and ensure the loyalty of his troops.