AT-AT walker
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All Terrain Walkers are armoured fighting vehicles from the ''
Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
'' universe that traverse the
landscape A landscape is the visible features of an area of land, its landforms, and how they integrate with natural or man-made features, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal.''New Oxford American Dictionary''. A landscape includes the ...
on mechanical legs. They are used by the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire, and the
First Order In mathematics and other formal sciences, first-order or first order most often means either: * "linear" (a polynomial of degree at most one), as in first-order approximation and other calculus uses, where it is contrasted with "polynomials of high ...
for ground assault, reconnaissance or transport. Throughout the saga walkers have played a pivotal role in the fate of characters and the outcome of battles. Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) is responsible for their animation and design, often using models,
stop-motion animation Stop motion is an animated filmmaking technique in which objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames so that they will appear to exhibit independent motion or change when the series of frames i ...
, and relevant
matte paintings Mattes are used in photography and special effects filmmaking to combine two or more image elements into a single, final image. Usually, mattes are used to combine a foreground image (e.g. actors on a set) with a background image (e.g. a scenic ...
to depict their presence in the films. There are a variety of walkers: '' The Empire Strikes Back'' and '' Return of the Jedi'' introduced the All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT) and All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST). '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'', '' Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'' and '' The Clone Wars'' introduced earlier
Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to: Star Wars Film and television * ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy * ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
-era models of walkers, such as the All-Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE), and the All Terrain Recon Transports (AT-RT). The ''
Star Wars Legends ''Star Wars'' has been expanded to media other than the original films. This spin-off material is licensed and moderated by Lucasfilm, though during his involvement with the franchise ''Star Wars'' creator George Lucas reserved the right to bot ...
'' continuity features numerous walker variants, several which have been merchandised in popular culture, while the later films '' Rogue One'' and '' Star Wars: The Last Jedi'' depicted, respectively, the former the AT-ACT variant to the standard AT-AT, the latter a restyled AT-AT for its new and more modern setting, and a new, even larger walker known as the AT-M6.


All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT)

The All Terrain Armored Transport () is a quadruped mechanized infantry combat vehicle used by Imperial ground forces. The AT-AT (pronounced either casually as 'at at', or using only the letters '') was first introduced in '' The Empire Strikes Back'' (as the Galactic Empire's main units against Rebel Alliance infantry during the Battle of Hoth) and also appears in '' Return of the Jedi'' and in '' Rogue One'' (in the AT-ACT variant). The also appears in a destroyed form in '' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'', explained in the video game ''
Star Wars Battlefront ''Star Wars: Battlefront'' is a series of first- and third-person shooter video games based on the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Players take the role of characters from the franchise in either of two opposing factions in different time periods of ...
'' (2015) to be a residue of the Battle of Jakku, which was the Empire's last defeat and resulted in its dissolution. Modified forms appear in '' The Last Jedi'' (used by the
First Order In mathematics and other formal sciences, first-order or first order most often means either: * "linear" (a polynomial of degree at most one), as in first-order approximation and other calculus uses, where it is contrasted with "polynomials of high ...
to attack
Resistance Resistance may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Comics * Either of two similarly named but otherwise unrelated comic book series, both published by Wildstorm: ** ''Resistance'' (comics), based on the video game of the same title ** ''T ...
forces in a former Rebel base). The theme park attraction '' Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance'', set after ''The Last Jedi'', features two full-sized AT-ATs in a hangar bay. These walkers, while mostly static, can move their cannons to allow for a scene in which the walker's drivers spot the ride vehicles and fire at them.


Origin and design

Joe Johnston's original design for the Empire's war machines was a giant, multi-wheeled vehicle; this design later became the "Juggernaut" in West End Games' roleplaying material, and the design was reworked into the clone turbo tank for '' Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith''. Johnston said Lucas wanted the walkers to look like anthropomorphic walking tanks to make them frightening. For ''The Empire Strikes Back'', however, the final design was a four-legged walker. Inspiration for the came from '' Paraceratherium'', an extinct genus of rhinoceros and the largest land mammal in history.
George Lucas George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker. Lucas is best known for creating the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' franchises and founding Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairm ...
later dismissed claims that the design was inspired by container cranes at the Port of Oakland (across San Francisco Bay from ILM's San Rafael offices), calling it a "myth"; animator Phil Tippett told the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' the same thing. ILM created models ranging from in height. ILM filmed the using
stop-motion animation Stop motion is an animated filmmaking technique in which objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames so that they will appear to exhibit independent motion or change when the series of frames i ...
against matte paintings created by
Michael Pangrazio Michael Pangrazio (commonly credited as Mike Pangrazio) is an American art director in the feature film industry best known for his matte painting work on ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' and ''The Empire Strikes Back''. As traditional and digital m ...
because attempts at compositing miniature footage against live-action background footage yielded mediocre results. Additionally, ILM studied
elephants Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae and ...
to determine the best way to animate the four-legged . Although the stop-motion animation style gave the a jerky, "staccato-like" effect on film, ILM found this movement acceptable because of the mechanical nature. The sound of the AT-AT walking was created by sound designer Ben Burtt using a punch press.


Depiction

The All Terrain Armored Transport is an assault walker used by Imperial ground forces to blast through enemy lines with its sheer mass and firepower and deploy a platoon of crack assault troops.Barr, et al. (2019), p. 331 The thick armor plating on the AT-AT will deflect or absorb anything but the heaviest
turbolaser A blaster is a fictional gun that appears in the ''Star Wars'' universe. Lucasfilm defines the blaster as "ranged energized particle weaponry". Many blasters mirror the appearance, functions, components, operation, and usage of real life firearm ...
weaponry. Standing over tall,Luceno, et al. (2018), p. 193 the is as much a weapon of terror as anything else, and its mere presence is often enough to intimidate the local populace into obedience. Its prodigious height also helps the walker see over obstacles and provides a clear line of sight for its weaponry, carried in its heavily armored head. A pair of Class II heavy laser cannons mounted in the head's "chin" can be fired in quick succession or simultaneously for a single, power blast, and can engage targets from many kilometers away;Lund, et al. (2016), p. 142-143 on either side of the "temples" are mounted medium repeating blasters and targeting rangefinders. When it comes time to deploy, troops carried in the exit out of the sides via harness-and-cable from extendable boom racks while
speeder bikes Speeder bikes (also known as "jumpspeeders" or "hover bikes") and swoop bikes (or just "swoops") are small, fast transports that use repulsorlift engines in the fictional ''Star Wars'' universe. ''Return of the Jedi'' includes a prominent speeder bi ...
exit out the front and back using harnesses. The walker's crew consists of two pilots and a vehicle commander; while both pilots are fully qualified, one usually serves as the driver and the other as gunner. pilots receive specialized training in order to operate their walkers, using terrain sensors in the head and footpads to find sure footing, and as such warrant extra layers of protection and long-lasting power packs in their life-support suits.Barr, et al. (2017), p. 192-193 Although imposing, these weapons of terror have a number of design flaws. Their size makes them conspicuous targets, especially on open terrain, and while they can navigate most rugged ground certain features such as steep hillsides or swamps can impede them. Their high center of gravity and unstable legs also make them susceptible to tripping. And while largely impervious to attack, their neck and underbelly are vulnerable to blasters and missiles. In the Battle of Hoth,
General Veers This incomplete list of characters from the '' Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt D ...
leads a group of and AT-STs dubbed Blizzard Force in the attack on the Rebels' Echo Base, as only slow-moving ground vehicles can penetrate the base's shield system. During the battle, the AT-AT designated Blizzard 2 is destroyed when
Wedge Antilles Wedge Antilles is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He is a supporting character portrayed by Denis Lawson in the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy. He is also featured in the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe, most notably as ...
and
Wes Janson Rogue Squadron is a fictional Military spacecraft in fiction, starfighter squadron (aviation), squadron in the Star Wars, ''Star Wars'' franchise. Many surviving members of Red Squadron, the Rebel Alliance, Rebel attack force that Luke Skywalk ...
use their snowspeeder's tow cable to trip it up and target its now-exposed neck with blaster fire to blow it up. Luke Skywalker destroys another AT-AT, Blizzard 4, by using a magnetic grapple to reach its underbelly, cut open a hole with his lightsaber and throw in a grenade. Ultimately the Empire is victorious as General Veer's Blizzard 1 destroys the shield generator, and in the ensuing rout he orders the remaining AT-ATs and AT-STs to overrun the Rebels' trenches and capture as many as possible. A ruined appears in ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' as the makeshift home of the scavenger
Rey Rey may refer to: *Rey (given name), a given name *Rey (surname), a surname * Rey (''Star Wars''), a character in the ''Star Wars'' films * Rey, Iran, a city in Iran * Ray County, in Tehran Province of Iran * ''Rey'' (film), a 2015 Indian film *The ...
on the planet Jakku. Using scavenged parts from the walker and other vehicles, Rey is able to construct a power system for her home along with booby traps and motion sensors to deter potential thieves. Information in the AT-AT's manifest reveal it was designated Hellhound 2, part of the complement of the Star Destroyer ''Interrogator'', but the ultimate fate of its crew is unknown. The First Order uses an updated model of the AT-AT during the Battle of Crait at the end of ''Star Wars: The Last Jedi''. Built by Kuat-Entralla Drive Yards, these versions of the venerable AT-AT address some of the stability issues that plagued the Imperial walkers. They also use lighter armor material to add additional layers of protection and address weak points without increasing weight.Luceno, et al. (2018), p. 344-345


Analysis

In 2011, a fan-led effort to get a life-sized, fully functional AT-AT built was stopped by Lucasfilm as violating their intellectual property. Commenting on the effort, Heiko Hoffman, a robotics expert at
HRL Laboratories HRL Laboratories (formerly Hughes Research Laboratories) is a research center in Malibu, California, established in 1960. Formerly the research arm of Hughes Aircraft, HRL is currently owned by General Motors Corporation and Boeing. The resear ...
, argued that building an AT-AT would easily cost US$100 million or more. He also argued that building such a vehicle would poses challenges since structural strength does not increase the same way as mass and there would be tremendous stress on the legs and joints, though he noted the AT-AT's method of walking was "statically stable" and appropriate for a heavy vehicle. A later estimate conducted in 2016 argued that building a real-life AT-AT would cost US$228.5 million. Using the
M1 Abrams The M1 Abrams is a third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) and named for General Creighton Abrams. Conceived for modern armored ground warfare and now one of the heaviest ta ...
as a starting point, such a vehicle would weigh over 1,000 tons and generate 19 megawatts of power. Dr. Malcolm Davis, director of the Defense & Strategy Program at the
Australian Strategic Policy Institute The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is a defence and strategic policy think tank based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, founded by the Australian government and funded by the Australian and overseas governments, industry ...
, argues that the AT-AT has several flaws which make it an ineffective design. Compared to tracked vehicles, Davis states that while walking vehicles like the AT-AT can potentially step over obstacles, they cannot run as fast, and destroying a leg would topple one over. The AT-AT also has a limited field of fire with all its weapons mounted in the head and its slab sides would be more vulnerable to shaped charge munitions as opposed to angled sides. He notes however that its height would give its line-of-sight weaponry a greater reach and puts its occupants well above any IED explosion. Joe Pappalardo of '' Popular Mechanics'' also argues that the AT-AT is a poorly-designed troop transport, being slow, top-heavy and conspicuous with its legs being a particular vulnerability. He contends that the Empire would have won the Battle of Hoth faster and more easily if they had deployed smaller conventional vehicles.


All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST)

The All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) is a two-legged
mech In science fiction, or mechs are giant robots or machines controlled by people, typically depicted as humanoid walking vehicles. The term was first used in Japanese (language), Japanese after shortening the English loanword or , but the mean ...
walker introduced briefly in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and featured extensively in ''Return of the Jedi''. These vehicles were designed to screen and protect the flanks of slower moving AT-ATs and the larger tanks used by the Empire. Due to their design and movement, they are often dubbed as a " chicken walker". The name Scout Walker is also used to refer to an . This name was used for the official toy instead of the name. Used in the battle of Endor and also used in the battle of Hoth. An AT-ST also appears briefly in '' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,'' patrolling Jedha City following an attack by Saw Gerrera's forces. A modified AT-ST later appears in '' The Mandalorian'' under the possession of a group of raiders, as the Empire has ceased to exist by the time of the series. An updated model of the AT-ST is used by the First Order in ''The Last Jedi''. Shortly before the film's climax, an AT-ST is commandeered by BB-8. Video games such as '' Star Wars: Rogue Squadron'' and ''
Shadows of the Empire ''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire'' is a 1996 multimedia project created by Lucasfilm. The idea was to create a story set between the films ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'', and to explore all commercial possibilities of a ...
'' (in a much expanded Battle of Hoth) include numerous , and these can be destroyed by direct shooting from the player's craft, in contrast to the heavily armored which have to be tripped by tow cables. are also player-controllable units in several real-time strategy games.


Origin and design

A single AT-ST makes a brief appearance in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' alongside the larger during the Battle of Hoth. The was meant to have more screen time; however, one scene depicting a snowspeeder shooting at the model was ruined when the set's background shifted. For ''Return of the Jedi'', ILM made the design more detailed. Numerous models were created, including a full-sized for on-location shooting. Director Richard Marquand and producer Robert Watts had cameos as operators for the scene in which
Chewbacca Chewbacca ( ), nicknamed "Chewie", is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He is a Wookiee, a tall, hirsute, bipedal, intelligent species originating from the fictional planet of Kashyyyk. Chewbacca is the loyal friend and firs ...
( Peter Mayhew) and a pair of
Ewok The Ewoks (singular: Ewok) are a fictional species of small, furry, mammaloid, bipeds in the '' Star Wars'' universe. They inhabit the forest moon of Endor and live in arboreal huts and other simple dwellings, being seen as primitive in comp ...
s commandeer an AT-ST. Lee Seiler sued
Lucasfilm Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC is an American film and television production company and a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, which is a business segment of The Walt Disney Company. The studio is best known for creating and producing the ''Star Wars'' and ' ...
in the mid-1980s, claiming that the infringed on his copyright on what he called a "Garthian Strider", which he said he created in 1976 or 1977. The case was dismissed with the court noting that not only did Seiler not produce the supposed drawings at trial, but that the copyright came one year after ''The Empire Strikes Back'' debuted.
Seiler v. Lucasfilm, Ltd., 613 F.Supp. 1253 (1984), ''affirmed, ''808 F.2d 1316 (1986)
Retrieved 10 Aug. 2013.


Depiction

According to ''Star Wars'' sources, the in-universe development of the can be traced back to earlier walker models like the and . Constructed as a companion to the larger
AT-AT All Terrain Walkers are armoured fighting vehicles from the ''Star Wars'' universe that traverse the landscape on mechanical legs. They are used by the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire, and the First Order for ground assault, reconnaissance ...
, the scout walker's lightweight bipedal design allows it to travel across rugged ground and fulfill a variety of missions, including patrolling, reconnaissance and mop-up operations.Barr, et al. (2019), p. 332 During major ground combat, protect the flanks of and hunt down any infantry or smaller threats which evade the assault walkers. A powerful gyro stabilizer, sophisticated shock absorbers, and terrain-measuring sensors in the footpads allow the scout walker to move faster and traverse areas which would be impassible to an . Standard weaponry includes a chin-mounted twin medium blaster cannon, with a twin light blaster cannon and a concussion grenade launcher on either side of the head. AT-STs may carry different side-mounted weapons, such as a light blaster cannon and/or concussion missile launcher. are crewed by two pilots, one who controls the weaponry while the other drives the walker. Their uniforms include fire-resistant boots, jumpsuits over basic armor plating, and crew helmets with attached telemetry receiver units. The two operate the scout walker looking out of the forward viewports or by relying on viewscreens and holoprojectors which help them see the area all around the walker. While the computer can pilot it easily enough over level ground, pilots must use their dexterity and superior sense of balance to help it navigate more difficult terrain. In order to achieve its speed and size, the is forced to sacrifice offensive and defensive capability. Its chin-mounted blasters are only effective out to , while the side-mounted weaponry has less range. Lightweight armor plating is proof against blasters and other small arms, but cannot withstand heavier laser cannons and missiles. The must rely on high-intensity power cells as it is too small to carry a full power generator, limiting its range. In ''The Empire Strikes Back'', scout for and provide support for the slower during the Battle of Hoth; when the shield generator is destroyed, they race ahead of the assault walkers to capture as many of the fleeing Rebels as possible. During the ground skirmish of the Battle of Endor in ''Return of the Jedi'', after initially inflicting heavy casualties on the Rebels and
Ewoks The Ewoks (singular: Ewok) are a fictional species of small, furry, mammaloid, bipeds in the '' Star Wars'' universe. They inhabit the forest moon of Endor and live in arboreal huts and other simple dwellings, being seen as primitive in comp ...
, several are destroyed when they prove highly vulnerable to the Ewoks' primitive booby traps, with one crushed between two large tree trunks swung on ropes. Another is hijacked thanks to
Chewbacca Chewbacca ( ), nicknamed "Chewie", is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He is a Wookiee, a tall, hirsute, bipedal, intelligent species originating from the fictional planet of Kashyyyk. Chewbacca is the loyal friend and firs ...
climbing aboard and using his strength to rip open its roof hatch; he proceeds to turn its weapons against the other to help win the battle. An updated model of the AT-ST is used by the First Order during the Battle of Crait in ''The Last Jedi''. Based on the classic Imperial scout walker, this version boasts improved stability and greater protection thanks to new lightweight armor plating.


Analysis

In episode 208 of ''
Mythbusters ''MythBusters'' is a science entertainment television program, developed by Peter Rees and produced by Australia's Beyond Television Productions. The series premiered on the Discovery Channel on January 23, 2003. It was broadcast internatio ...
'', the Build Team ( Grant Imahara, Kari Byron and Tory Belleci) tested the plausibility of the scene in ''Return of the Jedi'' wherein a swinging log trap destroyed an AT-ST. The team determined that the logs in the scene each weighed approximately and were swung at a 45 degree angle at the walker, impacting with the energy equivalent of around two
megajoule The joule ( , ; symbol: J) is the unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI). It is equal to the amount of work done when a force of 1 newton displaces a mass through a distance of 1 metre in the direction of the force applied. ...
s. To test this in real life, the team created a swinging log rig out of telephone poles and, after shoring the structure up with steel reinforcement, swung replica logs at an armored truck. The team declared the myth plausible when the logs succeeded in punching the truck's side panels off its frame.


All Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE)

The All Terrain Tactical Enforcer, or walker, is a mechanized infantry combat vehicle used by the Grand Army of the Republic ground forces. Having six grappling legs and a low centre of gravity, this armoured walker could navigate any terrain – even climbing vertical cliffs. It appears in ''
Attack of the Clones Attack may refer to: Warfare and combat * Offensive (military) * Charge (warfare) * Attack (fencing) * Strike (attack) * Attack (computing) * Attack aircraft Books and publishing * ''The Attack'' (novel), a book * '' Attack No. 1'', comic ...
'', '' Revenge of the Sith'', '' The Clone Wars'' multimedia campaign, '' Star Wars Battlefront II'' and in the early episodes from the second season of '' Star Wars Rebels''.


Origin and design

Conceived by Ryan Church as a predecessor to the , the animation for ''Attack of the Clones'' was supervised by Rob Coleman. Tom St. Amand, who worked on the scenes in ''The Empire Strikes Back'', provided his experience to create a similar appearance for the .


Depiction

first appeared in ''Attack of the Clones'' during the
Battle of Geonosis A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
, where they serve as both assault vehicles and infantry transports for the Grand Army of the Republic.Barr, et al. (2019), p. 302 Their in-universe manufacturer is Rothana Heavy Engineering, a subsidiary of Kuat Drive Yards and long-time enemy to the
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and Techno Union. A total of 2,160 were deployed in the battle, airlifted across the battlefield by special
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/c carriers to engage
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forces. The walker's unique six-legged design and flexible midsection gives it excellent stability and allows it to traverse otherwise impassible terrain. Its footpads contain terrain sensors and tractor-field generators which enhance its purchase on rough ground. They can also be magnetized, allowing the to even hang upside-down on metal surfaces. A turret-mounted mass driver cannon atop the has a low rate of fire but can be used to bombard fixed emplacements or shoot down slow-moving aircraft. Six turret-mounted laser cannons, four on the front of the hull and two in the rear, defend it against enemy infantry. The 's conductive armor spreads heat to minimize penetration from enemy fire, and is well-shielded against electromagnetic pulse and
ion cannon A particle-beam weapon uses a high-energy beam of atomic or subatomic particles to damage the target by disrupting its atomic and/or molecular structure. A particle-beam weapon is a type of directed-energy weapon, which directs energy in a part ...
weapons. The carries two squads of
clone troopers Clone troopers are fictional characters in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. They have been featured in a number of ''Star Wars'' media, including the live-action films '' Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and '' Ep ...
into battle, with seating split between the front and rear sections of the walker. These are connected by a flexible "concertina" section which also houses the walker's power generators. Inertial compensators beneath this seating helps to keep troopers secure, with seat restraints in case of compensator failure. In the '' Star Wars Rebels'' second-season episode ''Relics of the Old Republic'', a heavily customized is used by clone troopers Rex, Wolffe and Gregor as a mobile residence on the planet Seelos. Modifications made to the walker include renovating the interior to make room for bunk beds and a kitchen, and replacing the main cannon with rod and reel for catching the planet's wildlife. During a confrontation with a group of Imperial
AT-AT All Terrain Walkers are armoured fighting vehicles from the ''Star Wars'' universe that traverse the landscape on mechanical legs. They are used by the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire, and the First Order for ground assault, reconnaissance ...
s, the clones' is destroyed, but thanks to the crew of the ''Ghost'' the Imperials are defeated and a captured is used to replace it.


Analysis

B.K. Lok of ''That Hashtag Show'' argues that the is the best-designed walker in the ''Star Wars'' universe. Specifically in comparison to the , they argue it's harder to hit, is more stable, and possess greater all-around weapons coverage. Daniel Dimanna of ''
Screen Rant ''Screen Rant'' is an entertainment website that offers news in the fields of television, films, video games, and film theories. ''Screen Rant'' was launched by Vic Holtreman in 2003, and originally had its primary office in Ogden, Utah. ''Scr ...
'' however argues that the is the superior walker. While acknowledging the better stability and maneuverability, he cites the more powerful weaponry, impenetrable armoring, and greater carrying capacity as making it the definitive ''Star Wars'' walker. Blake Hawkins of '' CBR'' refers to the as "slow, awkward and kind of ridiculous" but states that Episode 10 of '' The Bad Batch'' helped redeemed it by showcasing its ability to navigate over difficult obstacles and its ability to intimidate the local populace.


All Terrain MegaCaliber Six (AT-M6)

The All Terrain MegaCaliber Six, or walker, is a mobile siege engine utilized by the
First Order In mathematics and other formal sciences, first-order or first order most often means either: * "linear" (a polynomial of degree at most one), as in first-order approximation and other calculus uses, where it is contrasted with "polynomials of high ...
in their attempt to reconquer the galaxy. Built around a massive
turbolaser A blaster is a fictional gun that appears in the ''Star Wars'' universe. Lucasfilm defines the blaster as "ranged energized particle weaponry". Many blasters mirror the appearance, functions, components, operation, and usage of real life firearm ...
cannon carried on its back, this
simian The simians, anthropoids, or higher primates are an infraorder (Simiiformes ) of primates containing all animals traditionally called monkeys and apes. More precisely, they consist of the parvorders New World monkeys (Platyrrhini) and Catarrhi ...
-shaped walker combins equal parts devastating firepower and psychological warfare. These walkers made their theatrical appearance in '' The Last Jedi'' as the First Order attempted to wipe out the
Resistance Resistance may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Comics * Either of two similarly named but otherwise unrelated comic book series, both published by Wildstorm: ** ''Resistance'' (comics), based on the video game of the same title ** ''T ...
in the Battle of Crait, and have appeared in other multimedia related to the
sequel trilogy The ''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy is the third trilogy of the main ''Star Wars'' franchise, an American space opera created by George Lucas. It is produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The trilogy ...
. As part of a promotional tie-in for the release of ''The Last Jedi'',
Nissan , trade name, trading as Nissan Motor Corporation and often shortened to Nissan, is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer headquartered in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The company sells ...
unveiled a concept car based on the called the Nissan Titan. Weighing about 6,500 pounds and using primarily molded aluminum parts, the Titan was built in partnership with Vehicle Effects, which also built cars for the '' Fast & Furious'' and Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchises. It was the most labor-intensive of several ''Star Wars''-themed cars debuted in the run-up to the movie's release.


Origin and design

In making a new walker vehicle based on the for the First Order, the creative team behind ''The Last Jedi'' wanted to address the tow-cable vulnerability which had been highlighted in ''The Empire Strikes Back.'' Kevin Jenkins, the movie's design supervisor, suggested to
Rian Johnson Rian Craig Johnson (born December 17, 1973) is an American filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the neo-noir mystery film ''Brick'' (2005), which received positive reviews and grossed nearly $4 million on a $450,000 budget. Transition ...
that it be based on a gorilla instead of a dog so they could not be tripped up. Photos of real-life gorillas were used as a starting point for the final design and helped to give the a distinctive and aggressive posture.


Depiction

According to background material, the is considered the First Order's most powerful combat walker. Unlike the preceding which functioned as an assault transport, the is primarily a platform for a MegaCaliber Six
turbolaser A blaster is a fictional gun that appears in the ''Star Wars'' universe. Lucasfilm defines the blaster as "ranged energized particle weaponry". Many blasters mirror the appearance, functions, components, operation, and usage of real life firearm ...
carried on its back. Capable of penetrating deflector shields rated to withstand planetary bombardments, the weapon requires a dedicated power plant and several auxiliary fuel cells to reduce recharge time. The heavily armored front legs were modified to handle the weight and massive recoil of firing the weapon, and feature ventilation gates which double as cable-cutters. This locomotion system also gives the walker the appearance of a giant simian predator which, combined with firepower to rival a battleship, is meant to help intimidate an opponent into submission.Barr, et al. (2019), p. 341 With the Resistance entrenched on Crait at a former Rebellion base, a contingent of are among the First Order forces deployed to the planet's surface to engage them, providing escort for a massive superlaser weapon. Despite the Resistance's best efforts the walkers are able to hold them off and the superlaser punches a hole through their defenses. However, the arrival of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker distracts the First Order and allows the Resistance to successfully escape.


Analysis

In comparing the to its predecessor, Dr. Malcolm Davis notes that, while the specific vulnerability to tow-cable attacks was addressed, many of the same criticisms applied to the still hold true for the First Order's walker. A more realistic design he argues would look similarly to the massive tanks which feature in the
Bolo universe The ''Bolo'' universe is a fictional universe based on a series of military science fiction books by author Keith Laumer. It primarily revolves around the eponymous "Bolo", a type of self-aware tank. They first appeared in the short story ''Combat ...
. Joe Pappalardo likewise believes that the is even worse than the because it has all of the same problems but increased in scale. He argues it was a lost opportunity to not give the walker the same agility as its simian inspiration and allow it to use its massive arms to walk, climb and swing more easily over obstacles.


List of other ''Star Wars'' walkers

Many vehicles were created for various ''Star Wars'' media and depicted as technological evolutionary predecessors and successors to the walkers featured in the original trilogy.


In film and television

;Utilized by the Republic, Empire and First Order *All Terrain Attack Pod (AT-AP): Featured in ''Revenge of the Sith'' and Clone Wars media, as a variation of the AT-PT. Alex Jaeger designed the AT-AP per Lucas' request to "diversify the Clone armor". Nicknamed the "sniper tank", the AT-AP features a variety of artillery weapons, a retractable third leg for stability, and other offensive features. *All Terrain Open Transport (AT-OT): Introduced in ''Revenge of the Sith'' and other sources, is a heavily armored transport whose open design makes it vulnerable from above. The AT-OT can transport 34 clone troopers, who are protected by thick armor and four laser cannons. During the late stages of ''Revenge of the Sith'''s development, it was called the "Clone CAT walker". *All Terrain Recon Transports (AT-RT): Introduced in ''Revenge of the Sith'' operated by clone troopers searching for Yoda ( Frank Oz) on
Kashyyyk Wookiees () are fictional humanoid aliens in the ''Star Wars'' universe, native to the forest planet Kashyyyk. They are distinguished from humans by their gigantism, hirsutism, and physical strength. The most prominent Wookiee is Chewbacca, c ...
. The AT-RT is described as a precursor to the AT-ST, though it also shares similarities to the AT-PTs of the same era. A scene cut from ''Revenge of the Sith'' would have shown Yoda distracting clone troopers while Chewbacca removes them from their AT-RT in a manner similar to how he obtains control of an AT-ST in ''Return of the Jedi''. AT-RT animators studied AT-ST movement to recreate part of the "original funkiness of movement" caused by the stop-animation style used in the original trilogy. *All Terrain Defense Pod (AT-DP): Introduced in '' Star Wars Rebels'', the AT-DP is described by ''Star Wars'' references as a successor to the AT-RT, combining speed with an armored cockpit to protect a pilot and gunner. Standing high and weighing , the AT-DP can reach speeds of . Because it is only armed with a single Kyuzo Maad-38 heavy laser cannon, the Empire primarily uses AT-DPs for defensive purposes like policing or sentry duty. *All Terrain Mobile Artillery (AT-MA): Introduced in ''The Force Awakens'', the AT-MA is a model of quadruped base defense walker used by the
First Order In mathematics and other formal sciences, first-order or first order most often means either: * "linear" (a polynomial of degree at most one), as in first-order approximation and other calculus uses, where it is contrasted with "polynomials of high ...
to defended
Starkiller Base The Death Star is a fictional space station and superweapon featured in the ''Star Wars'' space-opera franchise. Constructed by the autocratic Galactic Empire, the Death Star is capable of annihilating entire planets into rubble, and serves to e ...
. While it resembled the All Terrain Armored Transport once used by the Galactic Empire in terms of size and weaponry, the AT-MA was primarily designed for defense, rather than transport or assault. Several of these walkers were deployed across the planet to protect its installations, and at least three of them were present during General Armitage Hux's speech before the destruction of the Hosnian system. Several AT-MAs were portrayed in the ground vehicles storage area of a ''Resurgent''-class Star Destroyer. *All Terrain Armoured Cargo Transport (AT-ACT): Introduced in ''Rogue One'', these walkers are slightly larger than the standard AT-AT, with a hollowed-out center section that can hold a cargo container. Director Gareth Edwards instructed the film's concept artists to design walkers based on their idealized memory of the AT-AT. According to background material, the AT-ACT was built for hauling cargo at Imperial construction sites and research facilities. Larger than AT-ATs at tall, an AT-ACT's central container can hold of cargo. Although not meant for use on the battlefield, the AT-ACT is heavily armored against most handheld weapons and equipped with two Taim & Bak MS-2 heavy laser cannons, allowing it to be deployed into combat in an emergency. *All Terrain Heavy Hauler (AT-HH): Featured in ''The Last Jedi'', utilizing many more legs than most walkers to allow it to tow heavy cargo. * All Terrain Heavy Scout (AT-HS): A model of walker fielded by the First Order. The LEGO version of the AT-HS was based on a piece of concept art for ''The Last Jedi'' which, although canon, was ultimately not used in the final cut of the film. * All Terrain Cold-weather Mobile Heavy Cannon (AT-CMHC): A remodeled variant of the Umbaran UMHC used by the Imperial Military. This prototype model was specialized in sub-zero temperatures.Star Wars: Commander ;Utilized by other factions * Umbaran mobile heavy cannon (UMHC): Used by Umbarans during the
Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to: Star Wars Film and television * ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy * ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
. Later, both the Imperial Army and
Alliance to Restore the Republic The Alliance to Restore the Republic (Colloquialism, colloquial: Rebel Alliance; the Rebellion; the Alliance; or the Rebels) is a fictional Stateless nation, stateless interstellar coalition of republican dissidents, imperial Defection, defectors ...
used them during the Galactic Civil War. MHCs were heavily armored and had an articulated
electromagnetic plasma cannon In physics, electromagnetism is an interaction that occurs between particles with electric charge. It is the second-strongest of the four fundamental interactions, after the strong force, and it is the dominant force in the interactions of ...
mounted on top of its dome-like body.


In ''Expanded Universe'' media

*All Terrain Personnel Transport (AT-PT): Introduced during the climax of
Timothy Zahn Timothy Zahn (born September 1, 1951) is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy. He is known best for his prolific collection of ''Star Wars'' List of Star Wars books, books, chiefly the Thrawn trilogy, ''Thrawn'' series, and has publis ...
's novel ''
Dark Force Rising The ''Thrawn'' trilogy, also known as the ''Heir to the Empire'' trilogy, is a trilogy of novels set in the ''Star Wars'' universe, written by Timothy Zahn between 1991 and 1993. The first book marked the end of what ''Star Wars'' fandom calls "Th ...
'', is a two-legged, one-person vehicle designed for the Old Republic as a one man squad. These were designed to only fit one pilot, who gets in through a small side door. In an emergency, an extra person can be squeezed into the claustrophobic cockpit. This walker also had the interesting feature of having legs that can "crouch" when needed.The AT-PT is equipped with two blaster cannons, a concussion grenade launcher, and an array of sensors.The Empire would later end up finding and stealing these designs as the inspiration to the ''
AT-AT All Terrain Walkers are armoured fighting vehicles from the ''Star Wars'' universe that traverse the landscape on mechanical legs. They are used by the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire, and the First Order for ground assault, reconnaissance ...
'' and the '' AT-ST''. The AT-PT is also featured in several video games, including '' Star Wars: Rogue Squadron'', '' Star Wars: Force Commander'', and '' Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds''. *Mountain Terrain Armored Transport (MT-AT): Introduced in
Jedi Academy Trilogy The ''Jedi Academy'' trilogy is a trilogy of science fiction novels set in the ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe. All three books were written by Kevin J. Anderson and published in 1994. The plot takes place around seven years after the even ...
, dubbed "spider walkers", are octrupedalism specially for mountain terrain. These specific walkers can walk almost vertically, and are delivered through pods launched from larger ships *All Terrain Anti-Aircraft (AT-AA): Featured in various Expanded Universe media, is a four-legged
anti-aircraft Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...
vehicle used by the Galactic Empire. The All Terrain Advance Raider (AT-AR) appears in Marvel Comics' ''Star Wars'' series and an All Terrain Experimental Transport (AT-XT) appears in LucasArts' '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' game. DK Publishing's ''Attack of the Clones: Incredible Cross-Sections'' book mentions an All Terrain Heavy Enforcer.


Merchandise

Kenner released AT-AT and AT-ST toys as part of their ''Empire Strikes Back'' line, and Hasbro released toys based on those molds when the Special Edition trilogy was distributed. Micro Machines also released AT-AT, AT-ST, and AT-TE toys. Both
Decipher Inc. Decipher, Inc. is an American gaming company based in Norfolk, Virginia, US. They began with three puzzles called "Decipher" then moved on to party games and '' Pente'' sets, but since 1994 produced collectible card and role-playing games. Their ...
and Wizards of the Coast published AT-AT and AT-ST cards for their ''
Star Wars Customizable Card Game ''Star Wars: Customizable Card Game'' (''SW:CCG'') is an out-of-print customizable card game based on the '' Star Wars'' fictional universe. It was created by Decipher, Inc., which also produced the ''Star Trek Customizable Card Game'' and ''T ...
'' and ''
Star Wars Trading Card Game A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by its gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night, but their immense distances from Earth make ...
'', respectively.
Lego Lego ( , ; stylized as LEGO) is a line of plastic construction toys that are manufactured by The Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of variously colored interlocking ...
has released AT-AT, AT-ST, AT-DP, AT-AP, AT-OT, AT-RT, AT-TE, AT-M6, and AT-HS models.


See also

* Mecha * Iron Dobbin, an early mechanical horse from 1933 * Walking Truck, a real-world quadrupedal "walker" from 1969 *
BigDog BigDog is a dynamically stable quadruped military robot that was created in 2005 by Boston Dynamics with Foster-Miller, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Harvard University Concord Field Station. It was funded by DARPA, but the proj ...
, a dynamically stable quadruped military robot built in 2003


Bibliography

* * * * * * *


References


External links


Index of Technology section of the Star Wars Databank
– Includes several All Terrain walkers * * * * * * * * * {{Star Wars universe, state=collapsed Star Wars vehicles Fictional mecha Star Wars articles needing photos es:AT-TE it:AT-PT sv:Lista över farkoster i Star Wars#AT-PT