User:TimeLord11/Sandbox/Scanning

Sure, the new packaging looks great, but the number of twisty-ties they use to hold it in that position is insane.

Scanning is a method for Transformers to change their alternate modes into things native to other planets such as vehicles or animals on Earth.

Although the "original" or "Cybertronian" altmodes of the characters prior to scanning and reformatting are not always shown, they generally tend to be something roughly similar in size, form and function to their new mode (i.e. flyers tend to become planes, Cybertronian tanks become Earth tanks and small fast-moving land vehicles become sports cars or cheetahs), etc. This suggests that in most continuities the scanning process involves attempting to find the most similar compatible altmode available. Whether this makes the following reconstruction process easier or is merely a concession to the individual Cybertronian's personal preference is unknown.

Fiction

Generation 1 continuity family

Marvel Comics continuity

Built to Rule!

Four million years ago shortly after the crash of the Ark, the Ark's computer detected Shockwave landing on the planet in the Antarctic land-out-of-time. The Ark used the last of its capabilities to revive five warriors and rebuild them to transform into the Savage Land's dominant lifeforms: dinosaurs. The Last Stand

Subsequently, in 1984 the eruption of the volcano reboots the Ark which sends a drone to scan the area for local life forms which it takes to be terrestrial vehicles. Damaged, the Ark does not distinguish between factions and repairs and rebuilds both Autobots and Decepticons alike with new altmodes. The 'Cons leave soon after. The Transformers

Later stories would refer to new arrivals to Earth having to take on new "Terran" altmodes, but the process was generally glossed over.

The Transformers cartoon

"Wake up, Prime! Don't make me use this to wake you up."

The Transformers aboard the Ark were damaged and went into stasis lock after the Ark crashed into Mount St. Hilary. Four million years passed, and then in 1984, volcanic activity stirred the half-buried Ark, awakening Teletraan I, the computer system aboard. Teletraan I sent out a Sky Spy satellite to reconnoiter the new world and scanned terrestrial machinery in order to repair the Transformers and reformat them into new altmodes. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1

2005 IDW continuity

Using his natural scanning abilities, Jazz adopts a Porsche as a vehicle mode.

Though Cybertronians were capable of scanning a new alternate mode by projecting a beam from their optics, Time Will Rust the restrictive Functionist doctrine of interwar Cybertron meant that this ability went largely unused. Elite Cybertronians who sought to change their alternate modes underwent a process known as "body re-engineering" Post Hoc which could extend to a complete bodily reconstruction. Omega's Conundrum

During the era of the Great War, external machinery for obtaining new alternate modes was largely abandoned, Cybertronians instead using their natural scanning abilities for disguises. Time Will Rust Spotlight: Nightbeat When Cybertronians could not physically scan an alternate mode themselves, they could upload its schematics to a CR chamber which would reformat them. Spotlight: Shockwave

Following the rebirth of Cybertron and the end of the war, Wheeljack and Shockwave reformatted their respective comrades into new Cybertronian vehicle modes but the specifics of the process were not expanded on. The Autonomy Lesson

Hearts of Steel

Upon awakening from stasis lock, Bumblebee, inspired by John Henry, visited a railroad construction site and quickly scanned the nearby steam locomotive when he risked discovery, though he heavily modified its design to accommodate both his smaller size and his lack of need for a crew. Hearts of Steel #1 Upon reawakening and allying with the man, Starscream and the other Decepticons made use of Tobias Muldoon's blueprints to adopt flying alternate modes. The Insecticons by contrast had, through some undocumented method, already adopted a train alternate mode. Hearts of Steel #2

Universe (2008) promotional video

Optimus Prime emits the scanning beam from his optic sensor to scan a truck. Action Blast 1 Part 1

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe

When the Decepticons sent an envoy to Earth to meet with G.I. Joe, Starscream was observed by the Joes as suddenly changing shape to mimic a Skystriker. I Saw Three Ships

Ask Vector Prime

Once upon a time, a Metrotitan had scanned a boulder as an alternate mode. Witnessing this, a passing Malignus commented that such an alternate mode was unbecoming for a being of such power, something he demonstrated by scanning a jackhammer. Embarrassed, the Metrotitan then scanned a military bunker, the Malignus responding by scanning a missile launcher. Seeing the Rainbow City in the distance, the giant scanned it, gaining its impenetrability prompting the Malignus to try and scan entropy itself. Horrified, the Metrotitan conceded defeat and begged him not to go through with the scan but could not deter the Malignus whose spark was subsequently scattered to the winds. Deeply regretful, the Metrotitan went off, swearing to never bring harm to another of his kind. One of the Thirteen became aware of this tale and recounted it to Vector Prime who passed it on to a human curious about the upper limits of the scanning process. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/17

Star Trek vs. Transformers

When the Decepticons entered into an alliance with the Klingon Empire, Megatron had Trypticon scan a downed warbird to assimilate its cloaking device into himself. Prime's Directive, Part Two

Transformers/Ghostbusters

When Ectotron and Optimus Prime arrived on Earth, both used Sky Spy technology to scan local vehicles as Terran alternate modes. Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1 Ghosts of Cybertron Part 3

Transformers vs. The Terminator

When the Ark rebooted, a Sky Spy probe was sent out to scan local machinery as new alternate modes for the passengers. When it turned its beam on a commandeered truck, the T-800 at the wheel shot it down. Enemy of My Enemy Part One He later justified this act to Arcee as the probe having also scanned him. Enemy of My Enemy Part Three

Transformers/Back to the Future

After finding himself unable to tolerate Megatron's brutality any longer, Gigawatt trans-scanned the impounded DeLorean time machine, hoping to use its replicated power to alter history and undo his master's reign of terror. Transformers/Back to the Future #2

2019 IDW continuity

Newly forged Cybertronians were born without alternate modes, requiring them to scan one during their rearing. At an alternate mode testing site, Bumblebee offered Rubble the chance to try scanning a few model vehicles only for him to be called away by Windblade, bringing the session to a quick end. The World In Your Eyes Part Three

Beast Era

Beast Wars cartoon continuity

Following the Great Upgrade, Cybertronians had augmented the scanning process with the invention of the DNA scanner, allowing them to assume organic alternate modes. Built into exploration ships and their complement of stasis pods, these scans could replicate the genetic structure of organic animals, even from the fossilized remains of the creatures, Beast Wars (Part 1) and plants. Home Soil

Beast Wars cartoon

When the Axalon and Darksyde crashed on Earth, both crews scanned the nearby fauna so that the mimicked flesh would shield them from the harmful levels of energon radiation. To don their new modes however, the crews had to enter a CR chamber. Beast Wars (Part 1)

When the stasis pods fell to Earth, the scanners automatically sampled the nearest animal life form for the protoform within to transform into. Fallen Comrades Double Jeopardy The Spark Spider's Game

The scanners of two pods however were damaged by the destruction of the Planet Buster, Aftermath and wound up scanning two animals at once, turning their occupants into Fuzors. Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)

When Depth Charge crashed on Earth, his ship's emergency protocols scanned the local lifeforms and reformatted him into a manta ray. Deep Metal

Beast Machines cartoon

During the Beast Wars, Cybertron underwent the Quantum Cycle Upgrade, installing DNA scanners in the bodies of all citizens. When Megatron unleashed his Vehicons on Cybertron, Nightscream fell down a hole. His DNA scanner activated and sampled the remains of a bat that had once been native on Cybertron so he could survive. Survivor

Rattrap later combined an old DNA scanner with a spark extractor to try and reformat the Vehicons back into Maximals. When Blackarachnia tested it out on Jetstorm, the machine scanned the remains of a condor as it turned him back into Silverbolt. In Darkest Knight

Beast Wars II cartoon

Tens of thousands of years into the future, Cybertronians had reduced the scanning process to a beam projected from the optics. Tasmania Kid scanned, by accident, a Tasmanian Devil this way. The New Forces Arrive! The older methods of scanning gathered data were still available for use however with the Predacons obtaining vehicle modes by accessing an ancient computer and scanning the recorded data within it. White Lion, Run!

2021 IDW Beast Wars comic

When the Axalon and Darksyde crash landed, the AIs of both ships scanned the nearby fauna for suitable alternate modes that would protect the crew from high levels of energon radiation. Savage Landing Part 1

2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon

Skid-Z was able to scan Auggie Cahnay's racing car and reformat after arriving on Earth using a built-in scanner. The scan also seemed to pick up parts of Auggie Cahnay's personality causing him to experience the urge to enter races. Skid Z's Choice Stasis pods with in-built scanners also appeared in the series enabling the Predacons to select alternate modes which the contained protoforms would take. In the case of Scourge the scan beam took in a fuel tanker, Optimus Prime and Kelly causing Scourge's robot mode to bear a resemblance to Optimus and adding a human tinge to his bio-signature. The Decepticons

Unicron Trilogy

Both Cybertronians and Mini-Cons possessed the ability to scan andreformat for new alt modes without requiring the aid of any external reconfiguration technology. Metamorphosis Transformers could also scan more than one vehicle mode, holding the scanned data for others of their kind to make use of when they sought a new alternate mode. The scans also functioned if a simple photograph were to be used as a template. Fallen When the Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key reformatted Overhaul into Leobreaker, he scanned a stone carving as the template for his new beast mode. Detour

Movie continuity

2007 Transformers film

Upon being reduced to just a head, Frenzy scanned Mikaela Banes's cell phone to continue his espionage. When the girl in question later questioned why Bumblebee, Mikaela Banes turned into a "piece of crap Camaro", the offended scout promptly scanned a 2009 Camaro. When the rest of Optimus Prime's inner circle arrived on Earth, they all scanned nearby vehicles as their alternate modes. Transformers

Dark of the Moon film

When Megatron called in the Decepticons slumbering on the Moon, one of the force, Garagebot, scanned a garbage truck upon touching down in Washington, D.C.. Dark of the Moon

Age of Extinction film

When Kinetic Solutions Incorporated began developing their own Transformers, they sent grease monkeys out to collect shiny and expensive cars for their creations to scan.

When Optimus Prime reunited with the other Autobots, he scanned a passing eighteen-wheeler, though trading its white paint for his own red and blue colouring. When the Autobots later stormed Kinetic Solutions Incorporated, Bumblebee scanned a passing current generation Camaro. Age of Extinction

Bumblebee film

Upon arriving on Earth, Autobot scout B-127 scanned an army jeep to escape the United States Armed Forces before a battle with Blitzwing left him damaged and he scanned a Volkswagen Beetle as he fell into stasis lock.

When Shatter and Dropkick were confronted by Sector Seven, both took the chance to scan flying vehicles to become Triple Changers. Following B-127 - since renamed Bumblebee - defeating the two, he scanned a Camaro when he went off to reunite with the other Autobots. Bumblebee

IDW movie comics

When reviewing the footage of how N.B.E. 02 had escaped, Sector Seven inferred the existence of the scanning process, deducing that the alien had scanned and mimicked a passing Camaro at his landsite. Movie Prequel #3 When Starscream touched down not long afterwards, he scanned an F-22 before shooting it down. Movie Prequel #4

See also: Trans-scan

Animated continuity family

When Optimus Prime and his crew found themselves on Earth, they sent out a Sky Spy to investigate. Finding that the outside situation needed Autobot help, Prime had the Sky Spy scan nearby vehicles whose form the Autobots assumed after using a reformatting chamber. When Starscream later arrived, he scanned a harrier jet without any external machinery. Transform and Roll Out

When Lugnut and Blitzwing arrived on Earth, the former sought to scan a disguise to search covertly, something his comrade furiously objected to until ordered by Megatron, the two scanning aircraft at a military base. Lost and Found

Shattered Glass

Hey, this isn't a light cycle!

After arriving Earth and finding Soundwave in stasis lock, Heatwave reactivated the systems and the on-board scanner of Soundwave's stasis pod. It scanned a nearby SUV for Soundwave and reactivated him. The Desert Heat!

Aligned continuity family

Aligned novels

Scanning new vehicle modes based on the current locale is not something that every Cybertronian enjoys; some pride themselves on retaining the same vehicle form that they have had since learning to assume it. During his stay on Junkion Prowl briefly contemplated scanning a new vehicle mode to better suit the treacherous terrain of the junk planet but ultimately decided against it. Exiles

IDW Prime comic

After jumping through a space bridge had brought them to Earth, Arcee and Cliffjumper scanned nearby vehicles. Having followed, Starscream likewise scanned a nearby aircraft. Transformers: Prime

Prime cartoon

Perfect! No one will ever suspect such a big spiky truck of actually being an alien robot in disguise!

A Cybertron's ability to scan new alternate modes was enabled by their transformation cog. Operation Bumblebee, Part 1 When scanning, Cybertronians emitted a green, or blue, beam from their optics which provided them with a complete schematic of their new alternate mode and allowed them to instantly assume it. When scanning vehicles, the scanning process noticeably cause electrical interference. Masters & Students Crisscross Loose Cannons

When Skyquake emerged from stasis lock, he did so bereft of a vehicle mode. Fortunately for him, Agent Fowler's VTOL passed overhead which the Decepticon zealot quickly scanned. Masters & Students When Fowler and his men had cornered Airachnid, she simply scanned one of their helicopters and escaped. Crisscross When Dreadwing arrived on Earth, he scanned the same VTOL as his brother when the opportunity presented itself. Loose Cannons

During MECH's trails runs at Project Chimera, they had one of their prototypes scan a helicopter. Though the scan was successful, the prototype failed to reconfigure or transform due to MECH not providing the transformation cog with energon. Operation Bumblebee, Part 1

After Optimus Prime was reformatted by the Forge of Solus Prime into a larger body, Agent Fowler provided the Prime with an experimental M.A.S.K.-division vehicle for him to scan. Project Predacon

Rescue Bots cartoon

"Om mani padme hum."

Upon arriving on Earth, Optimus Prime provided the members of Rescue Force Sigma-17 with a choice of vehicle modes based on the native machinery. After choosing their new alternate modes, the members of the force immediately assumed alternate form and began to integrate into human society. Family of Heroes After some time on Earth, Optimus Prime instructed Heatwave on how to gain a third form which involved intense concentration and focusing a lot of energy, a process Optimus described as “an ordeal” in which few succeeded on their first try. It involved a form of prone meditation so deep that Heatwave was apparently unable to hear an embarrassing conversation going on right next to him. When his energy focusing was complete his Rescue Bot insignia glowed blue similar to when using energize tools and he himself glowed briefly. It glowed blue again when he scanned a fireboat and he told Blades that he was still exhausted later that day or a day or two later. He also told him that Blades would not be allowed to attempt to scan a third form, since Heatwave did it only with Optimus' permission and help. Changes In accordance with uniqueness decay however, Optimus later scanned Trex to gain a Dinobot form without the same fanfare being given to the difficulty of scanning a third form, Land Before Prime and in order to test a cure for Optimus' rampaging dino mode on himself Boulder scanned a third form with only a few moments of focusing and no apparent fatigue. Big Game When Quint Quarry demanded more dinobots in addition to Boulder and Optimus, Heatwave gained a fourth form and Chase and Blades scanned third modes all with no apparent preparation or fatigue. The process did strain Blades' T-cog to the point that it was several hours before he could use it again, though this strain was attributed partially to the bio-organic nature of the new forms they'd scanned. Quarry's Quarry

2015 Robots in Disguise cartoon

After arriving on Earth, Strongarm and Sideswipe scanned new vehicle modes at Denny Clay's scrapyard. Noticeably, Fixit and Grimlock did not adopt compatible Earth forms possibly due to personal preferences or physical limitations. Pilot (Part 2)

Most, but not all of the Decepticon fugitives aboard the Alchemor also chose to scan new alternate modes while hiding out on Earth.

The Decepticons really knew that they were in trouble after Optimus learned how to Warp Digivolve.

While training in the Realm of the Primes Optimus Prime learned how to control and fine-tune the scanning process so that he could merely adopt one characteristic of an appropriate vehicle. While searching for a Decepticon in the Arctic members of the Bee Team scanned suitable camouflage from a nearby truck Overloaded, Part 2 and during the trip south they adopted desert camouflage by scanning an offroad jeep. Cover Me

The Bee Team repeated this when visiting the ruins of Autobot Outpost Omega One, History Lessons while Steeljaw's Pack used the trick to pass off as hazardous waste disposal vehicles. Prisoner Principles

See also: Electronic paint job, Camouflage paint

Notes

The PETA gonna SUE!!

• In an advertisement of PSX version of Beast Wars: Transformers in the United Kingdom, Cheetor grabs and scans a cheetah by the scan beam emitted from his optics.