The small blue-and-white astromech droid created by George Lucas is R2-D2.
R2-D2, commonly pronounced “Artoo-Detoo,” is an astromech droid designed for starship maintenance, navigation, repair, and computer interfacing. His compact cylindrical body, three-legged configuration, and blue-and-white plating make him one of the most recognizable figures in Star Wars. Unlike many characters, R2 communicates primarily through electronic whistles and beeps.
R2 plays a crucial role across the Skywalker saga. In the original film, Princess Leia entrusts him with the stolen Death Star plans and a message for Obi-Wan Kenobi. He later helps Luke Skywalker, repairs spacecraft, accesses restricted systems, and repeatedly contributes to missions that determine the fate of the galaxy.
A frequent mix-up is choosing C-3PO, R2-D2’s longtime companion. C-3PO is a gold protocol droid, while R2-D2 is the blue-and-white astromech. BB-8 is another small astromech, but it belongs to a later generation of Star Wars stories.