Trans-scan

A trans-scan is a Transformer biological process in the live action movie continuity family.

Trans-scanning is the biological process by which a Transformer's built-in sensors choose and examine a new alternate mode. The process of disguising themselves, camouflaging their robotic natures, is as ingrained and natural in Transformers as changing color is in chameleons. Immediately after arriving on a new world in its Transition form, a Transformer begins trans-scanning to choose and generate a new exostructure/disguise appropriate to both its size/body mass and its new locale.

Transformers can trans-scan a new (appropriately massed) alternate form at will, and their inner protoform core will generate a new exostructure or alter an existing one to that new appearance almost instantaneously.

References

From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.