Energy signature
Each Transformer has a unique identifying energy signature.[1] 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.[2]
Drones have energy signatures,[3] so an energy signature is not the same thing as a resonant spark signature.
Fiction
Beast Wars
Blackarachnia developed a signature dampener 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.
Transformers Animated
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. Mission Accomplished
IDW Generation 1 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?
References
- ↑ To test the Predacon autoguns, Megatron programmed a target box to emit the Maximals' energy signatures. Power Surge
- ↑ 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".
