SPERO

SPEROs  (pronounced as 'spare-oh', or sparrow) are probes sent by the Koppaites to search for a planet with edible sustenance on it in order to save their planet Koppai, as seen in the opening sequence of Pikmin 3.  SPERO 3 is the last one searching and is the one that finds PNF-404, a planet with bountiful food to sustain Koppai's population.

Mission Mode

SPEROs are used as a storage device for the fruit collected in Pikmin 3's Mission Mode, comparable to the Ship's Research Pod in underground areas in Pikmin 2. 

Trivia

• The name SPERO may be an easter egg, as it is pronounced as "Sparrow" which is a common bird found in the real world.
• SPERO also means "I hope" in italian. Given the probe's mission, it seems fitting.
• As SPERO is written in all caps, it probably is an acronym, but what SPERO stands for is never mentioned in the game. 

Gallery

• 

  SPEROs searching for other planets with edible food for Koppai.

• 

  Official art of the SPERO from one of Nintendo's magazines.

• SPERO.png

  A Picture of a SPERO from Mission Mode.