“I first stumbled across Katie’s story and immediately thought, “I need to be a part of this.” There was just something about her strength, her light, and the community built around her that stayed with me. But at the time, building a droid of my own wasn’t something I could make happen—so I did what I could. I shared her story, supported the mission, and helped keep her legacy moving forward in whatever small ways I could.
Months later, everything changed.”
Without me knowing, my husband had quietly started a build. It was meant to be a surprise… but he was way too excited to keep it to himself (and honestly, I’m glad he didn’t!). From that moment on, our excitement took over—because this wasn’t just about a droid. It was about purpose.
R2-KT is more than pink panels and a cheerful beep. She represents hope, resilience, and the enduring legacy of Katie—a young girl whose courage inspired an entire galaxy of fans to spread kindness, raise awareness for childhood illness, and bring smiles to those who need them most.
“Now, as her proud operators, Mike and Aida McLaughlin, we are honored to carry that mission forward. Whether it’s troop events, hospital visits, or community appearances, R2-KT is here to brighten days, spark joy, and remind people that even the smallest droid can make the biggest difference.
She proudly rolls with the 501st Florida Garrison and Everglades Squad in South Florida—continuing Katie’s legacy one smile at a time.”
Birthdate: July 10, 2026 – Florida Supercon 2026
Drive System: 24V brushed scooter motors that are inside that are belt driven. It’s a go-build motor controller that’s driving the drives. There’s a small go-build motor controller that spins the dome. Dome is a Pololu motor is a 300 rpm geared motor.
Body: 3d printed ABS
Build: 3-leg mobile
Lighting: TC lighting system; its prebuilt and ordered from Astromech.
Sound: Amplifier to 2 speakers in front that go to the speakers. All audio comes from Kyber. There’s also a ground loop isolator to filter sound.
Special: 2 moving arms in the front.
Missions: I see R2-KT’s prime directive as simple: to leave every person she meets a little happier than she found them. Every beep, every interaction, every photo, and every event is an opportunity to remind someone that kindness matters and that hope is never out of reach.
R2-KT AmbassaDroid Corps and Pink Force are worldwide Star Wars fan organizations comprised of and operated by Star Wars fans. While it is not sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd., it follows generally accepted ground rules for Star Wars fan groups. Star Wars, its characters, costumes, and all associated items are the intellectual property of Lucasfilm. © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.
