From the Movies
A common utility droid, the WED Treadwell model is characterized by a flat, treaded base providing a low center of gravity. From this extends a spindly neck and cluster of manipulator arms. The droid has goggle-like photoreceptors mounted atop a telescoping neck. Its vocabulator speaks in a warbling binary code.
The Lars family has had a stubborn dim-witted treadwell droid in their possession for over 20 years. It suffered a final meltdown in the days preceding Luke Skywalker's departure from Tatooine.
From the Expanded Universe
Cheap, mass-manufactured repair droids from Cybot Galactica, WED Treadwells can be found throughout the galaxy, particularly in the Outer Rim where their affordability makes them popular.
The droid's treaded base is the source of its nickname, and its wide array of tool-tipped appendages the source of its versatility. Their arm-bases typically have sockets to support six manipulators, though some models carry eight or more. Cybot Galactica encourages consumers to purchase multiple arms for various tasks, swapping out the limbs as needed.
WED-15-77 was a recalcitrant yet hardworking droid that belonged to the Lars Homestead for over 20 years. It assisted young Luke Skywalker on a variety of chores, but preferred working for Beru Lars since she always had it do the same predictable jobs.
Behind the Scenes
The treadwell droid had an extended scene with Luke Skywalker that was ultimately cut out of
A New Hope, wherein it breaks down as the young farmboy rushes off to tell his friends of an orbital space battle he has just witnessed. This same model of droid ends up in the Jawa sandcrawler as well as lurking in the background of the Lars homestead. It was later identified as a WED15 unit. A similar "septoid" droid, without the goggle-like eyes and with red and white trim, is also visible during the Jawa auction scene.
In The Empire Strikes Back, Han Solo briefly chats with an uppity treadwell while repairing the Millennium Falcon in the Echo Base hangar bay. This droid was eventually identified as "Techie," or WED-1016.
For Attack of the Clones, the treadwell design has been resurrected and once again inhabits the Lars homestead, showing that the droids may be simple but are long-lasting even under the harshest of conditions.
