Energy signature
Each Transformer has a unique identifying energy signature (also referred to as a life signal or an energon signature). That energy signature can usually be used to identify someone's faction. Certain substances or devices can mask a Transformer's energy signature from detection. The type of energy is unknown, possibly infrared.[1]
Drones have energy signatures,[2] so an energy signature is not the same thing as a resonant spark signature.
Fiction
Beast Wars cartoon continuity
Beast Wars cartoon
The Maximals and Predacons emitted different energy signatures. When the Predacons were setting up the defences around the Darksyde, Megatron programmed a target box to emit a Maximal energy signature for the autoguns to target. Power Surge
Blackarachnia developed signal dampeners which the Predacons used to hide themselves after faking their deaths. Victory
Beast Machines
All the Maximals' energy signatures were undetectable by the Vehicon drones when the Maximals were in beast mode. The signatures became detectable again whenever the Maximals were in robot mode. Mercenary Pursuits
Animated cartoon
Optimus was unable to detect Elita-1's energy signature when she was mutated into a half-organic being. This led him and Sentinel to believe that she was killed, causing a falling out between the pair. Along Came a Spider
Prime was able to detect Prowl's energy signature when the latter was consumed by a nano-machine-enhanced bug. He noted that it was weak, indicating a connection between the signature and the subject's health. Transform and Roll Out
The Decepticon forces (all two of them) were equipped with dampeners created by Isaac Sumdac, which prevented the Autobots from detecting them outside of their makeshift base. Sustained by an AllSpark fragment, Starscream found that he no longer emitted an energy signature, allowing him to move about covertly. Mission Accomplished
When Megatron took control of Omega Supreme's body, the Autobots evaded him by driving into a body of water, the Decepticon leader frustratingly noting that the moisture was interfering with the Autobots' energy signatures. TransWarped
Upon his rescue by the Autobots, Professor Sumdac developed the technology to counter the dampeners, allowing the Decepticons to once again track Decepticon energy signatures. Three's a Crowd
Aligned continuity family
Prime cartoon
The Autobots were able to track their foes' life signals, Convoy an ability that the Decepticons lacked. When shielded, a Cybertronian's life signal could not be located. Prey
On Earth, Ratchet had the ability to track Team Prime's life signals, recording the extinguishing of Cliffjumper's. Darkness Rising, Part 1 When Cliffjumper was later revived by Dark Energon, his life signal reactivated. Darkness Rising, Part 2 When Breakdown's corpse was fashioned into a mobile life support suit for Cylas, his life signal reactivated, though corrupted. The Human Factor
Following the end of the Great War and the revival of Cybertron, Starscream and Shockwave disappeared. In possession of the Nemesis, the Autobots tried to track to their life signals to no avail, Arcee suspecting that Shockwave had developed a method of masking them. When Unicron possessed Megatron's body to invade Cybertron, the Autobots were able to track him through Megatron's reanimated life signal. Predacons Rising
2015 Robots in Disguise cartoon
As part of the Autobots' plan to retake the Alchemor, Grimlock was fitted to emit a Decepticon life signal. Decepticon Island (Part 1)
2005 IDW continuity
The Decepticon Justice Division used energy signatures to track down those unfortunates whose names were on The List. After dispatching Black Shadow, they traced Fulcrum's energy signature to the planet Clemency. Rules of Disengagement Following Fulcrum's apparent suicide, Kaon detected Overlord's energy signature nearby and the D.J.D. set off in pursuit. Who's Afraid of the DJD?
The beast modes of the Chimeracons were able to mask their energy signatures. Sins of the Wreckers #2
War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon
Full access to the Golden Disk could only be gained through Megatron's energon signature. Kingdom episode 4 Using a sample of Megatron's energon, Blackarachnia managed to engineer a workaround. Kingdom episode 5
References
- ↑ In the Beast Wars episode "Coming of the Fuzors", the Predacon security system identifies Dinobot's "Maximal infrared signature." It's unclear whether this is the same as an energy signature or the computer was simply programmed to recognize the infrared "fingerprint" of every known Maximal.
- ↑ Cheetor used a scrambled field generator to disguise the energy signature of a drone as that of a Maximal in "Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege".
