Shuttle drone

A shuttle drone was a small Federation auxiliary craft employed during the 24th century and usually attached to a starbase or a space station.

A shuttle drone was seen in the interior of Starbase 74, close to the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)'s docking port when the ship was inside the station in 2364. 

Later in the same year, a shuttle drone landed on and flew around the starbase on Relva VII, when Wesley Crusher was taking the entrance exam to Starfleet Academy on the base. 

A shuttle drone was also seen three years later in the interior of Starbase 133. 

In 2369, a shuttle drone approached the Remmler Array in orbit of Arkaria when the Enterprise-D was docked at the station to undergo a baryon sweep. 

Background information
The craft was named a "shuttle drone" in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (3rd ed., p.240).

StarTrek.com mistakenly called the drone approaching the Remmler array the USS Magellan.

Studio model
According to the Companion, the small, six inch long shuttle drone was built "quick-and-dirty" by Dan Curry using disposable Gillette razor handles as nacelles. Curry noted on his build, "For example, when the Enterprise is in Dry-dock a small utility vessel passes by. It is actually a broken toy robot foot embellished with throw-away razor handles glued to it. We didn't have much time and used whatever was available to do the job. The makers of everyday objects do a great job of precise industrial design and manufacturing. If you can look at things independent of their actual size you will discover that the world is filled with space ship parts."

Though small, a behind-the-scenes picture on Larry Nemecek's Blog revealed that the model was rigged with internal lighting as was also shown in the Reading Rainbow's episode "The Bionic Bunny Show", where the model was featured. Curry has retained the small model, and it is currently part of his personal collection. (TNG Season 6 DVD-special feature "Dan Curry Profile")

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