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.

They also have a funny tendency to be the same colors each time...<ref>Animated is one of the first continuities to show multiple cases of characters scanning Earth altmodes with explicitly different (i.e. more "realistic") coloration or paintwork and yet having their reformatted bodies stick with their original deco schemes instead of conforming to the scanned example. Lugnut, Blitzwing, Starscream and Bulkhead all do this which is particularly odd in the last case since the mudflap rather seems to be using Hound's deco which is based on a vintage U.S. Army Jeep. Mind you, the idea goes all the way back to "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1" in which an orange tractor trailer was scanned for Optimus Prime and yet he retained his red and blue coloration.</ref>

Fiction

Generation One

None of the various 1980s versions of the Generation One continuity show the original G1-era Cybertronians as capable of either scanning for new altmodes or reformatting themselves without the use of external technology and a drawn-out nuts n' bolts process of physical reconstruction. This technology appears to be standard-issue in ships and various facilities.

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

Dreamwave G1 continuity

Being set quite some time after the initial awakening of the Transformers on modern-day Earth, the scanning and rebuilding process was never really detailed in this continuity but can be assumed to have been along the lines of the fairly similar classic cartoon and Marvel comic scenarios.

Subsequent arrivals under Shockwave's banner of a unified Cybertron have been reformatted into Earth modes prior to their arrival to the planet. Again, the process is not shown. War and Peace

IDW Generation 1 continuity

Much like the Dreamwave counterpart, the IDWverse shows the Autobots and Decepticons already on Earth albeit with higher emphases on disguise. The process of reformatting is not shown. Infiltration

Again, subsequent arrivals to Earth such as Optimus Prime, Megatron and Hot Rod make mention of having been modified to have new Earth-based altmodes but the process is similarly not depicted directly.

The first on-panel scanning was for the Dynobots and required the use of a CR chamber. Spotlight: Shockwave

In the jump-forward storyline All Hail Megatron, many of the Autobots and Decepticons have inexplicably been reformatted again, but merely into similar-but-different Earth altmodes. It is no surprise that in all cases these resemble their most recent real-world toy releases, particularly under the Universe line. All Hail Megatron Following the rebirth of Cybertron and the end of the war, Wheeljack and Shockwave worked to reformat their respective comrades into new Cybertronian vehicle modes. The Autonomy Lesson

Hearts of Steel

It's not fully clear how exactly Cybertronians scan their alternate modes. Bumblebee can, for instance instantly reformat from his prehistoric beast mode into a nonexistent steamhammer locomotive. Hearts of Steel #1 On the other hand, Starscream and the other Decepticons need plans drawn up by Tobias Muldoon to reformat into flying alternate modes. Hearts of Steel #2

Whether or not Astrotrain is a living Transformer raises even more questions; he's one of several Decepticons to be made or refitted to function as a train. Some Decepticons are also manually refitted to make rail cars for Astrotrain. Hearts of Steel #3

Universe (2008) promotional video

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

Beast Era

Protoform Transformers are able to get new alternate modes by using the DNA scanned from the lifeforms of the nearby environments.

Beast Wars cartoon

When in operation, the "scan beam" emitted from the DNA scanners built into Cybertronian ships can analyze DNA data scanned from lifeforms immediately. If the device scans a corpse or fossil it is able to reconstruct the lifeform's appearance during its lifetime. Examples of this include the alternate modes of Megatron, Dinobot, Terrorsaur and Nightscream.

Once the scanned DNA data is retrieved it is sent to CR chambers or CR tanks. The Transformers have to enter the CR chambers or tanks to get their new altmode.

There is also a DNA scanner mounted on each stasis pod in order to get the DNA data from the lifeforms of the planet on which the stasis pod lands. The stasis pod itself then reformats the occupant—or perhaps just "formats" since protoforms are generally considered to be newborns.

Beast Wars II cartoon

Beast Wars II featured the first instance of built-in DNA scanners and self-reformatting technology allowing the Transformers to adopt alternate modes on the spot without the need for external machinery. Only Tasmania Kid is seen using it on an animal The New Forces Arrive! while the Predacons obtained vehicle modes by accessing an ancient computer and scanning the recorded data within it. White Lion, Run!

Beast Machines cartoon

After falling into a hole Nightscream became unconscious. During that time a DNA scanner inside his body was activated and scanned the fossils of a big bat once native to Cybertron giving him a bat alternate mode. Forbidden Fruit He explains to Rattrap that all Cybertronians now have built-in scanners by this slightly later point in history, having been equipped with them in the planet-wide Quantum Cycle Upgrade that evidently occurred after the Axalon and Darksyde crews departed Cybertron for the Beast Wars. Forbidden Fruit

According to Botanica she and her crew scanned the DNA from the plant on the planet on which she landed. Home Soil

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

Upon arriving on Earth, both Autobots and Decepticons display the ability to scan and reformat for new alt modes without requiring the aid of any external reconfiguration technology. Metamorphosis When the Unicron Singularity was threatening the universe, Transformers even displayed the ability to scan multiple alternate modes in addition to the one they chose for themselves, storing the data on other vehicles and passing it on to other Transformers to scan. Scanning didn't even require the presence of the actual vehicle—a mere photograph or illustration of the vehicle would do. Fallen

Live-action film series

2007 Transformers film

Autobots and Decepticons from the live-action films have the most fluid abilities to date regarding scanning and reformatting their bodies at will without any apparent need for external assistance whatsoever. Although there is some ambiguity, it even appears that the transformational abilities of Movie Cybertronians are so fluid that they can re-scan and reformat as often as they wish and not even use the same "transformation scheme" twice, possibly suggesting that they can generate new parts such as additional weapons at will independent of a full reformatting cycle.

Movieverse scanning can even replicate the appearance of rust and scratched and faded custom paintwork when imitating an old beater, apparently.

See also: Trans-scan

Animated

In the Animated universe Optimus Prime and his crew use a Sky Spy-type probe from their ship to scan new alt modes for them which they are then very quickly reformatted into by taking turns stepping inside a device similar to a CR chamber.

However, upon arriving on Earth the Decepticons Starscream, Lugnut and memorably Blitzwing are capable of scanning new altmodes directly from their own bodies and immediately reformatting themselves without any such chamber, although the actual reformatting is not shown onscreen. This may suggest that while Animated Decepticons appear to have the ability to scan and reformat themselves unaided, Animated Autobots apparently do not. Transform and Roll Out

When Megatron rebuilds himself with the assistance of Sari Sumdac's AllSpark-powered key he is reconstituted with a newly reformatted helicopter-altmode body straight away rather than in his original body which had a Cybertronian jet-altmode. He had presumably scanned the design while his disembodied head still had access to Issac Sumdac's computers.

In a similar vein, mere moments after upgrading himself Soundwave was capable of transforming into a brand-new vehicle mode without any scanning whatsoever. Wreck-Gar also went through the same process as he could also transform into a vehicle mode without having done a single scan beforehand.

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 familiar vehicle nearby 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

Prime cartoon

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

For some reason that has yet to be explained, many Cybertronians seem to lose the ability to assume a vehicle form after arriving on Earth. While they are perfectly functional in robot mode their inability to transform into an alternate mode puts them at a disadvantage regarding mobility, though there are some exceptions. However, Cybertronians are readily capable of scanning local vehicles for alternate modes. This appears as the Cybertronian in question shooting what appears to be green or blue beams from their eyes. The beams scan the vehicle which even appears to cause some electrical interference as well providing the Cybertronian with a complete schematic of their chosen vehicle after which they can immediately transform into said vehicle.

Curiously, Cybertronians here seem to display kibble that hints to an Earth-based vehicle mode before they actually scan one.

Agent Fowler has inadvertently provided some Decepticons their new vehicle modes with the vehicle he's currently riding in much to his irritation. Masters & Students Crisscross Loose Cannons

A Transformer's scanning ability is enabled by their transformation cog component. Operation Bumblebee, Part 1

Optimus Prime scanned a new alternate mode that would better integrate his new jetpack. The vehicle chosen by Agent Fowler was an experimental M.A.S.K.-division vehicle. 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

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History Lessons Prisoner Principles Freedom Fighters

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.

References

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