5 Star Wars tech we wish were real

In the Star Wars universe, lightsabers are shown to be capable of cutting through almost anything, including blast doors and even walls. And depending on the skill of the wielder, they can also be used for defence, such as blocking and reflecting blaster bolts, as well as absorbing Force lightning.

While it might seem a bit insane to want such a deadly weapon to exist in real life, the practical applications of the technology are irrefutable. In fact, it already exists in some form, with plasma scalpels already used in certain surgeries. Think of all its potential self-defense and military applications too.

Hyperdrive

One of the thorniest issues in science fiction is the matter of travelling through space. Space is incomprehensibly large, so much so that an object travelling at the speed of light can take hundreds of years to traverse the smallest galaxies. Obviously, this does not make for good storytelling.

Star Wars solves this issue using Hyperdrive. These engines allow starships to travel at speeds that exceed the speed of light, through an alternate dimension known as hyperspace – often referred to as “jumping to lightspeed”. This allows them to cover vast distances at more reasonable speeds. 

A hyperdrive consists of a propulsion unit and a computer that calculates a safe path through hyperspace. An important thing to note is that not all starships have hyperdrives. Smaller ships like fighters often have no on-board hyperdrive and have to rely on hyperspace transport rings to jump to lightspeed.

Imagine just what this tech can do for space exploration if it were real. Journeying to the farthest reaches of our solar system could take hours instead of years, and visiting neighbouring galaxies would be a possibility instead of some far-fetched dream.

Droids

For a universe filled with hyperspace travel, laser swords, and planet-destroying weapons, droids are oddly grounded in Star Wars. They seem to be the one piece of technology that’s not in the realm of fantasy or science fiction. While we haven’t yet seen a real droid, advancements in today’s robotics probably mean we are not far off from seeing one like those in Star Wars.

Part of that comes down to how varied and human-like Star Wars’ droids are. You’ve got protocol droids like C-3PO, built for translation and etiquette; and then there are astromechs like R2-D2, quietly handling repairs, navigation, and just about anything else you throw at them. Then there’s also the murderous, but lovable, little critter that is Chopper. If it isn’t obvious by now, they all feel like they have personalities, even when they’re arguably not supposed to. And that’s what makes them so endearing. They’re machines, but they’re written and designed with quirks, habits, even moods.

It’s also hard not to see echoes of where we’re headed now. Voice assistants, autonomous robots, even AI copilots – they all feel like early, slightly clumsy versions of what Star Wars’ droids represent. And maybe that’s why in a galaxy full of impossible tech, droids are the ones that feel strangely possible.

Speeders

Speeders (also called repulsorlift vehicles) are the equivalent of an overpowered e-scooter in the Star Wars Universe. It usually fits one traveller, can carry some inventory, and doesn’t require any Force-sensitivity to use – that said, having some connection to the Force can be helpful.

The significant difference between real life and the Star Wars repulsorlift vehicles is that they defy gravity, adding an immense amount of convenience. For example, you do not need perfectly built roads, and it lets you navigate difficult or impassable terrain. Suspension (and the resulting comfort) must feel quite decent, too. Because speeders still travel close to the ground, having multiple repulsorlift users wouldn’t be too messy in urban or rural areas with users all over the skies.

The franchise has solidified the importance of speeder technologies with many examples in the movies and TV series. Most people won’t give it a second thought, but speeders are essential to some of the most iconic in-universe moments, such as the Stormtroopers’ 74-Z speeder bikes chasing down Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in Return of the Jedi, and Rey’s self-made Jakku junkyard speeder when she was first introduced as an impossibly beautiful space karung guni in The Force Awakens. And who can forget the scene of Anakin riding on the Zeyphr-G speeder as he races to save his mother in The Attack of the Clones?

Note: If you want to see all these tech in action, subscribe to Disney+ to watch all the Star Wars movies and TV shows. Be sure to also check out our other Star Wars content below.