All Terrain Walkers are
armoured fighting vehicle
An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour, generally combining operational mobility with offensive and defensive capabilities. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked. Examples of AFVs are tanks, armoured car ...
s 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
Galactic empires are a common trope used in science fantasy and science fiction, particularly in works known as 'space operas'. Many authors have either used a galaxy-spanning empire as background or written about the growth and/or decline of s ...
, and the
First Order 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
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is an American motion picture visual effects company that was founded on May 26, 1975 by George Lucas. It is a division of the film production company Lucasfilm, which Lucas founded, and was created when he began pro ...
(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 to depict their presence in the films.
There are a variety of walkers: ''
The Empire Strikes Back
''The Empire Strikes Back'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'') is a 1980 American epic film, epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based o ...
'' and ''
Return of the Jedi
''Return of the Jedi'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi'' is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand. The screenplay is by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas from a story by Lucas, who ...
'' 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
''Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'' (or simply ''Rogue One'') is a 2016 American epic space opera film directed by Gareth Edwards. The screenplay by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy is from a story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta. It was produced by Luc ...
'' 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
Quadrupedalism is a form of locomotion where four limbs are used to bear weight and move around. An animal or machine that usually maintains a four-legged posture and moves using all four limbs is said to be a quadruped (from Latin ''quattuor' ...
mechanized infantry combat vehicle
An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct fire, direct-fire support. The 1990 Treaty on Convention ...
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
''The Empire Strikes Back'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'') is a 1980 American epic film, epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based o ...
'' (as the
Galactic Empire
Galactic empires are a common trope used in science fantasy and science fiction, particularly in works known as 'space operas'. Many authors have either used a galaxy-spanning empire as background or written about the growth and/or decline of s ...
's main units against
Rebel Alliance
The Alliance to Restore the Republic (colloquial: Rebel Alliance; the Rebellion; the Alliance; or the Rebels) is a fictional stateless interstellar coalition of republican dissidents, imperial defectors, revolutionary factions and anti-imperial ...
infantry during the
Battle of Hoth
''The Empire Strikes Back'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'') is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story ...
) and also appears in ''
Return of the Jedi
''Return of the Jedi'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi'' is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand. The screenplay is by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas from a story by Lucas, who ...
'' and in ''
Rogue One
''Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'' (or simply ''Rogue One'') is a 2016 American epic space opera film directed by Gareth Edwards. The screenplay by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy is from a story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta. It was produced by Luc ...
'' (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'' (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
''Star Wars: The Last Jedi'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi'') is a 2017 American epic space opera film written and directed by Rian Johnson. Produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pict ...
'' (used by the
First Order to attack
Resistance 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
Joseph Eggleston Johnston II (born May 13, 1950) is an American film director, producer, writer, and visual effects artist. He is best known for directing effects-driven films, including ''Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'' (1989), ''Jumanji'' (1995 ...
'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
West End Games (WEG) was a company that made Board game, board, Role-playing game, role-playing, and wargaming, war games. It was founded by Daniel Scott Palter in 1974 in New York City, but later moved to Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Its product line ...
' 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
''Paraceratherium'' is an extinct genus of hornless rhinoceros. It is one of the largest terrestrial mammals that has existed and lived from the early to late Oligocene epoch (34–23 million years ago). The first fossils were discovered ...
'', 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 crane
A container crane (also container handling gantry crane or ship-to-shore crane) is a type of large dockside gantry crane found at container terminals for loading and unloading intermodal containers from container ships.
Container cranes consis ...
s at the
Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland is a major container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay. It was the first major port on the Pacific Coast of the United States to build terminals for container ships. As of 2011 it was the f ...
(across San Francisco Bay from ILM's
San Rafael offices), calling it a "myth"; animator
Phil Tippett
Phil Tippett (born September 27, 1951) is an American movie director and Oscar and Emmy Award-winning visual effects supervisor and producer, who specializes in creature design, stop-motion and computerized character animation. Over his career, ...
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
In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.
In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...
Ben Burtt
Benjamin Burtt Jr. (born July 12, 1948) is an American sound designer, film director and editor, screenwriter, and voice actor. As a sound designer, his credits include the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' film series, ''Invasion of the Body ...
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 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
''The Empire Strikes Back'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'') is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story ...
, 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-ST
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, reconnaissanc ...
s 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
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the protagonist of the original film trilogy of the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Portrayed by Mark Hamill, Luke first appeared in ''Star Wars'' (1977), and he returned in ''The ...
destroys another AT-AT, Blizzard 4, by using a magnetic grapple to reach its underbelly, cut open a hole with his lightsaber
A lightsaber is a fictional energy sword featured throughout the ''Star Wars'' franchise. A typical lightsaber is depicted as a luminescent plasma blade about in length emitted from a metal hilt around in length. First introduced in the or ...
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 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
Star Destroyers are capital ships in the fictional ''Star Wars'' universe. Star Destroyers were produced by Kuat Drive Yards, later Kuat-Entralla Engineering, and serve as "the signature vessel of the fleet" for the Galactic Republic, Galactic Em ...
''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
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...
. Commenting on the effort, Heiko Hoffman, a robotics expert at HRL Laboratories, 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, argues that the AT-AT has several flaws which make it an ineffective design. Compared to tracked vehicle
Continuous track is a system of vehicle propulsion used in tracked vehicles, running on a continuous band of treads or track plates driven by two or more wheels. The large surface area of the tracks distributes the weight of the vehicle b ...
s, Davis states that while walking vehicle
A walking vehicle is a vehicle that moves on legs rather than wheels or tracks. Walking vehicles have been constructed with anywhere from one to more than eight legs. There are many designs for the leg mechanisms of walking machines that provide ...
s 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
The field of fire of a weapon (or group of weapons) is the area around it that can easily and effectively be reached by gunfire. The term 'field of fire' is mostly used in reference to machine guns. Their fields of fire incorporate the beaten zon ...
with all its weapons mounted in the head and its slab sides would be more vulnerable to shaped charge
A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to form an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) to focus the effect of the explosive's energy. Different types of shaped charges are used for various purposes such as cutting and forming metal, init ...
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
''Popular Mechanics'' (sometimes PM or PopMech) is a magazine of popular science and technology, featuring automotive, home, outdoor, electronics, science, do-it-yourself, and technology topics. Military topics, aviation and transportation o ...
'' 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
Screen or Screens may refer to:
Arts
* Screen printing (also called ''silkscreening''), a method of printing
* Big screen, a nickname associated with the motion picture industry
* Split screen (filmmaking), a film composition paradigm in which mul ...
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
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 after shortening the English loanword or , but the meaning in Japanese is mo ...
". 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
Saw Gerrera is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was originally introduced as a minor character in the animated series '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'', where he was voiced by Andrew Kishino. He was subsequently played by Fo ...
's forces. A modified AT-ST later appears in ''The Mandalorian
''The Mandalorian'' is an American space Western television series created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is the first live-action series in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, beginning five years after the events of ''Retur ...
'' 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
BB-8 (or Beebee-Ate) is a droid character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He appeared in the three films of the sequel trilogy, '' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015), '' Star Wars: The Last Jedi'' (2017), and '' Star Wars: The Rise of Skywa ...
.
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 ...
'' (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
Real-time strategy (RTS) is a Video game genre, subgenre of strategy video games that do not progress incrementally in turn-based game, turns, but allow all players to play simultaneously, in "real time". By contrast, in Turn-based strategy, turn ...
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
Richard Alfred Marquand (22 September 1937 – 4 September 1987) was a British film and television director active in both US and UK film productions, best known for directing 1983's ''Return of the Jedi''. He also directed the critically accla ...
and producer Robert Watts
Robert Watts (born 23 May 1938)Adam Pirani, ''Robert Watts: Secrets of "The Temple of Doom"'', Starlog #94, April 1985, pp 23–26,62. is a British retired film producer who is best known for his involvement with the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana ...
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
Peter William Mayhew (19 May 1944 – 30 April 2019) was a British-American actor. He was best known for portraying Chewbacca in the ''Star Wars'' film series. He played the character in all of his live-action appearances from the 1977 origin ...
) and a pair of Ewok
The Ewoks (singular: Ewok) are a fictional species
There are a number of lists of fictional species:
Extraterrestrial
*List of fictional extraterrestrials (by media type)
*Lists of fictional alien species: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, ...
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
Patrolling is a military tactic. Small groups or individual units are deployed from a larger formation to achieve a specific objective and then return. The tactic of patrolling may be applied to ground troops, armored units, naval units, and co ...
, reconnaissance
In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities.
Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...
and mop-up operation
Zachistka ( rus, зачистка, lit. ''clearing operation'') is an unofficial Russian military term for "building (room-to-room) clearing operations" (battle drill) featuring armed patrols and house-to-house searches. The term is mostly associa ...
s.[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
''The Empire Strikes Back'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'') is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story ...
; 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
''Return of the Jedi'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi'' is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand. The screenplay is by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas from a story by Lucas, who w ...
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 compa ...
, 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
Grant Masaru Imahara (October 23, 1970 – July 13, 2020) was an American electrical engineer, roboticist, and television host. He was best known for his work on the television series '' MythBusters'', on which he designed and built numero ...
, Kari Byron
Kari Elizabeth Byron (born December 18, 1974) is an American television host, best known for her role on the ''MythBusters'' and ''White Rabbit Project'' series.
Early life
Byron was born in the Bay Area, California. She graduated from Los Gat ...
and Tory Belleci
Salvatore "Tory" Paul Belleci (born October 30, 1970) is an American television personality and model maker, best known for his work on the Discovery Channel television program ''MythBusters''. He has also worked with Industrial Light and Magic on ...
) 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 megajoules. 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
An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct fire, direct-fire support. The 1990 Treaty on Convention ...
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
Revenge is committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does... offend the law ndputteth the law out of office." Pr ...
'', '' The Clone Wars'' multimedia campaign, '' Star Wars Battlefront II'' and in the early episodes from the second season of ''Star Wars Rebels
''Star Wars Rebels'' is an American 3D animation, 3D animated science fiction on television, science fiction television series produced by Lucasfilm Animation and set in the ''Star Wars'' universe. It takes place over a decade after ''Episode ...
''.
Origin and design
Conceived by Ryan Church
Ryan Matthew Church (born October 14, 1978) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Career Minors
Drafte ...
as a predecessor to the , the animation for ''Attack of the Clones'' was supervised by Rob Coleman
Rob Coleman (born April 27, 1964) is a Canadian animation director; he is currently the creative director at Industrial Light & Magic Sydney, Australia. Previously, he was the Head of Animation at the award-winning Australian visual effects and an ...
. 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, 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 Trade Federation
Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market.
An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct excha ...
and Techno Union.[ A total of 2,160 were deployed in the battle, airlifted across the battlefield by special ]LAAT
''Laat'' (Sindhi language, Sindhi لاٽ) is a children's magazine in Sindhi language, Sindhi published by Mehran Publication Hyderabad, Sindh. It started in 1988 and got immediate attention of Sindhi children. It was founded by Altaf Malkani and ...
/c carriers to engage Separatist
Separatism is the advocacy of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. As with secession, separatism conventionally refers to full political separation. Groups simply seeking greate ...
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
A mass driver or electromagnetic catapult is a proposed method of non-rocket spacelaunch which would use a linear motor to Acceleration, accelerate and catapult Payload (air and space craft), payloads up to high speeds. Existing and contemplated ...
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
An electromagnetic pulse (EMP), also a transient electromagnetic disturbance (TED), is a brief burst of electromagnetic energy. Depending upon the source, the origin of an EMP can be natural or artificial, and can occur as an electromagnetic fie ...
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
''Star Wars Rebels'' is an American 3D animation, 3D animated science fiction on television, science fiction television series produced by Lucasfilm Animation and set in the ''Star Wars'' universe. It takes place over a decade after ''Episode ...
'' 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
A siege engine is a device that is designed to break or circumvent heavy castle doors, thick city walls and other fortifications in siege warfare. Some are immobile, constructed in place to attack enemy fortifications from a distance, while other ...
utilized by the First Order 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
''Star Wars: The Last Jedi'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi'') is a 2017 American epic space opera film written and directed by Rian Johnson. Produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pict ...
'' as the First Order attempted to wipe out the Resistance 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
A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...
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
''Fast & Furious'' (also known as ''The Fast and the Furious'') is a media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family. The franchise also includes short films, a t ...
'' and Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appear in American comic books published by ...
(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. Transitio ...
that it be based on a gorilla
Gorillas are herbivorous, predominantly ground-dwelling great apes that inhabit the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. The genus ''Gorilla'' is divided into two species: the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla, and either four or fi ...
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.[ 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 trooper
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 ...
s, 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
Yoda () is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' universe, first appearing in the 1980 film ''The Empire Strikes Back''. He is a small, green humanoid alien who is powerful with the Force and is a leading member of the Jedi Order until ...
(Frank Oz
Frank Oz (born Frank Richard Oznowicz; May 25, 1944) is an American actor, puppeteer, and filmmaker.
He began his career as a puppeteer, performing the Muppet characters of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam Eagle in ''The Muppet Show ...
) 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 Chewba ...
. 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
''Star Wars Rebels'' is an American 3D animation, 3D animated science fiction on television, science fiction television series produced by Lucasfilm Animation and set in the ''Star Wars'' universe. It takes place over a decade after ''Episode ...
'', 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
Quadrupedalism is a form of locomotion where four limbs are used to bear weight and move around. An animal or machine that usually maintains a four-legged posture and moves using all four limbs is said to be a quadruped (from Latin ''quattuor' ...
base defense walker used by the First Order to defended Starkiller Base. 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
A planet is a large, rounded astronomical body that is neither a star nor its remnant. The best available theory of planet formation is the nebular hypothesis, which posits that an interstellar cloud collapses out of a nebula to create a you ...
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
Sir Gareth Owen Edwards CBE (born 12 July 1947) is a Welsh former rugby union player who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey".
In 2003, in a poll of international ru ...
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 temperature
Temperature is a physical quantity that expresses quantitatively the perceptions of hotness and coldness. Temperature is measured with a thermometer.
Thermometers are calibrated in various temperature scales that historically have relied o ...
s.[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
The Galactic Empire is a fictional autocracy featured in the '' Star Wars'' franchise. It was first introduced in the 1977 film '' Star Wars'' and appears in its two sequels: ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) and ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983). ...
. MHCs were heavily armor
Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...
ed 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'', 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
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, reconnaissanc ...
''. 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
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
' ''Star Wars'' series and an All Terrain Experimental Transport (AT-XT) appears in LucasArts
Lucasfilm Games (known as LucasArts between 1990 and 2021) is an American video game brand licensing, licensor that is part of Lucasfilm. It was founded in May 1982 by George Lucas as a video game development group alongside his film company; as ...
' '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' game. DK Publishing
Dorling Kindersley Limited (branded as DK) is a British multinational publishing company specialising in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 63 languages.
It is part of Penguin Random House, a subsidiary of German media co ...
's ''Attack of the Clones: Incredible Cross-Sections'' book mentions an All Terrain Heavy Enforcer.
Merchandise
Kenner
Kenner Products, known simply as Kenner, was an American toy company founded in 1946. Throughout its history, the Kenner brand produced several highly recognizable toys and merchandise lines including action figures like the original series of ' ...
released AT-AT and AT-ST toys as part of their ''Empire Strikes Back'' line, and Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (; a syllabic abbreviation of its original name, Hassenfeld Brothers) is an American multinational conglomerate holding company incorporated and headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Hasbro owns the trademarks and products of ...
released toys based on those molds when the Special Edition trilogy was distributed. Micro Machines
Micro Machines are a line of toys originally made by Galoob (now part of Hasbro) in the mid-1980s and throughout the 1990s. Micro Machines are tiny scale component style "playsets" and vehicles that are slightly larger than N scale.
The toys
...
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
Wizards of the Coast LLC (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for ga ...
published AT-AT and AT-ST cards for their '' Star Wars Customizable Card Game'' and '' Star Wars Trading Card Game'', 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
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 ...
* 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
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References
External links
Index of Technology section of the Star Wars Databank
– Includes several All Terrain walkers
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{{Star Wars universe, state=collapsed
Star Wars vehicles
Fictional mecha
Star Wars articles needing photos
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