Holomatter

Holomatter makes its appearance in the Transformers: Infiltration comic series. It is used by the Autobots infiltrating Earth to create fake drivers for their alternate forms so as not to arouse suspicion among the human populace.

The Autobot Ratchet mentions "holomatter generators". These are presumably a network of power and / or projection systems scattered across his chassis. These devices are small enough to fit within a standard Transformer and, aside from the image of the fake driver they project, give off no visual or auditory emissions. The generators operate like a highly-advanced holographic projector; they are capable of creating an image a considerable distance away from the Autobot they are installed within. The image is projected not only through the Autobot's skin (holomatter drivers have appeared both within and outside their Autobots, as far distant several metres) but also through solid walls (allowing Ratchet's driver to appear within the windowless holding cell containing Verity, Hunter and Jimmy in Issue 3 of Infiltration).

The most remarkable feature of holomatter images, though, is that they are actually solid. Although the actual strength of a holomatter avatar is yet to be established, Ratchet's handling of the SM-40 in Infiltration Issue 3 indicates that they can carry and manipulate small objects with ease.

Overload jolt
In emergencies, a holomatter avatar can be used to deliver a massive electrical surge at very close range. This surge is powerful enough to momentarily disrupt the systems of a single Transformer, enough to cause disorientation and possibly unconsciousness for at least ten seconds. The cost of this surge is the holomatter generators themselves; whether an Autobot's internal systems will repair the damage given time (as implied by Ratchet in Infiltration Issue 1) or whether repair facilities are required is unknown; both the general pacing of the Infiltration series and the absence of any "repair" scenes in the comics suggest the former.

Limitations and weaknesses
One apparent problem with holomatter is its seeming incapability to accurately mimic human facial expressions. The faces of all the holomatter avatars seen so far have a "creepy-fixed-smile"; although Ratchet's avatar's upper face has expressed worry, fear and resignation (and its eyes have closed), its smile has never disappeared. The artwork gives the reader the impression that the avatar's lips are incapable of moving.

Known avatars

 * Ratchet - Blond middle-aged, sightly hefty white male.
 * Bumblebee - Blonde and smokin' bra-less white female.
 * Wheeljack - Balding "scientist-type" older white male w/ white hair, glasses, goatee.
 * Jazz - Young black male with slight soul patch in a black suit.
 * Sunstreaker - Blonde female.
 * Ironhide - Older "military brass-type" white male with silver hair and mustache in a gray suit.
 * Prowl - Red hair, receding hairline, middle-aged white male with dark sunglasses and a gray suit.