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 the Transformers to change their alternate mode into the native things from 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 usually become Earth tanks, and small, fast land vehicles tend to 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...

Generation 1

None of the various versions of Generation 1 continuity show the original G1-era Cybertronians as capable of either scanning for new alt modes 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 lifeform: dinosaurs. The Last Stand

Subsequently, in 1984 the eruption of the volcano reboots the Ark, which sends a drone to scan the area for the local life form, 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.

Cartoon continuity

"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 this new world, and scanned examples of terrestrial machinery in order to repair the Transformers and reformat them into new alt modes. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1

Dreamwave Productions 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 probably be assumed to have been something along the lines of the fairly similar classic cartoon and Marvel comic scenaria.

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 Publishing continuity

Much like the Dreamwave comics, the IDWverse shows the Autobots and Decepticons already on Earth, albeit with a higher emphasis on disguise. The process of their 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

Hearts of Steel continuity

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 issue 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 issue 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 issue 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 environment.

Beast Wars

When in operation, the "scan beam" emitted from the DNA scanners built into Cybertronian ships can analyze the DNA data scanned from the lifeforms immediately. If the device scans a corpse or fossils, 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 the CR chambers or CR tanks. The Transformers have to enter the CR chambers or CR tanks to get their new alternate modes.

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

Beast Wars II

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

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 native big bat on the planet Cybertron, gaining 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 planetwide Quantum Cycle Upgrade that evidently occurred after the Axalon and Darksyde crews departed Cybertron for the Beast Wars.

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

Robots in Disguise

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 the 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—even a photograph or illustration of the vehicle would do. Fallen

Live-action film series

Transformers (2007 film)

Autobots and Decepticons from the live-action film 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 Movieverse 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, faded, custom paintwork when imitating an old beater, apparently.

See also: Trans-scan

Transformers Animated

In the Transformers 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 alt modes directly from their own bodies, and then immediately reformatting themselves without any such chamber (although the actual reformatting is not shown onscreen). This may suggest that while Animatedverse Decepticons appear to have the ability to scan and reformat themselves unaided, Autobots apparently do not.

When Megatron rebuilds himself with the assistance of Sari's Allspark-powered key, he is reconstituted with his newly reformatted helicopter-alt mode body straight away, rather than in his original body. Presumably, he had already scanned the design while his disembodied head had access to 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.

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

Transformers: Exiles

Scanning new vehicle modes based on the current local 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

Transformers: Prime

For some reason that has yet to be explained, 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 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 beams from their eyes. The beams scan the vehicle, which 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 appear to display kibble that already hints to an Earth vehicle mode before they actually scan one.

William Fowler has inadvertedly provided some Decepticons their 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 T-cog component. Operation Bumblebee, Part 1

Transformers: Rescue Bots

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

Notes

PETA gonna SUE!!

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