Binary bonding

HEAD ON.

Binary bonding is a process in which a Transformer enters into a symbiotic relationship with a smaller being (usually organic, often an Earthling or a Nebulan) who has been augmented with the ability to transform into a component or weapon.

“	These six people that you see, Sparkplug, are from the planet Nebulos and, like myself, are binary bonded to their respective Autobot partners--but in a different way. They become the Autobots' weapons!	”
—Fortress Maximus introduces the Targetmasters, The Desert Island of Space!

Fiction

Generation 1 toy bios

Binary bonding was the process by which the Headmasters, Targetmasters, and Powermasters came into being.

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel The Transformers comics

Targetmasters were binary bonded like Headmasters were, but different in that they became the Transformer's weapon. The Desert Island of Space!

The exact mechanics of binary bonding and its relationship to the various -masters is left a bit vague. Is not clear if the Headmasters' mental link between binary bonded partners is due to binary bonding or to the Headmaster process specifically.

Classics

Classics continues from the Marvel US series, and does not include the UK stories or any subsequently published stories.

Amory was binary bonded to Phyrion. Cheap Shots

The Transformers cartoon

The Headmasters' heads were modified with an interior control panel where their partner could sit and manually control the movements of the Transformer, if the Transformer allows it. Binary bonded Headmasters may "feel like they are part of each other", but otherwise communicate by speaking to each other normally. The Rebirth, Part 2

Timelines

Ultra Magnus was binary-bonded to his Mini-Con partner Knock Out. Force of Habit Knock Out formed the robot mode head and central torso.

Prime cartoon

Starscream created some clones through the transference of binary bonding, so that when they got smashed, Starscream also felt the pain. Armada

Ask Vector Prime

The union the humans and robots of the Xobitor universal cluster undertake is considered by Vector Prime to be binary bonding.Ask Vector Prime, 2015/05/27 The natives call it Interface. Spacewarp's Log (2), 2016/01/23

TransTech continuity

After a bad experience with "colonists" from the Aurex Cluster, Nebulos altered their atmosphere to make it poisonous to Cybertronian life. In order to safely go undercover on this world, Vector Prime was binary bonded with a friendly native, codenamed: "Safeguard". When connected to Vector Prime, Safeguard would allow the ancient Autobot to process native fuel sources. He could also interface with him as a handheld weapon. The process would not only extend Safeguard's lifespan by several centuries, but allow him to convert into a Nebulonian mini-fighter. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/11/04

Beast Wars: Uprising

Binary-bonding was developed by the Hive Nations and Decepticons when the war spread to Nebulos. Nucleon, who was partnered with Galvatron, opined that binary-bonding was far more subtle and refined than the crude combiner process. A Brush With Infamy–Prologue