Sensors

Sensors are essential components of mechanical beings, especially Transformers, serving a wide variety of functions and feeding a mechanoid information about the environment around it. Most Transformers are built with a set of standard senses - optic, audio, olfactory, touch, short-range radio-wave transmission, electrical sensitivity and magnetic sensitivity are common in some universes - but many have specialized sensor packages that are unique or rare, giving them special abilities that make them stand out.

Sensor types

Audio Sensors

Audio Sensors are a component of Transformer anatomy that allows them to hear sounds in their environment. Some are more acute than others, allowing recording of normally inaudible frequencies.

As part of a demonstration of the Dinobots, Blaster transformed into his alternate form allowing Grimlock to practice his fine tuned laser breath to start up Blaster's music. Ironhide told Blaster to stop the music as it was so loud that it was fusing his audio sensors. Dinobot Island, Part 1 Later, Blaster sent the Autobots the music from the rock concert that he, Spike Witwicky, and Carly were attending. Jazz was the only one who seemed to enjoy it, where as Optimus and the others were nearly overcome in pain. Blaster Blues

Olfactory Sensors

Olfactory sensors are a sensor unit used to detect the scents of others. It is very common in animal based Transformers. Ravage possessed one of the most powerful olfactory sensors. The Dinobot leader Grimlock possessed olfactory sensors which were powerful enough to smell Dinosaur transform static. Thief in the Night

After the Great Upgrade from Autobot to Maximal, olfactory sensors were included among sensor units. Silverbolt had impressive olfactory sensors. When Ravage entered the Axalon, he was able to smell Ravage, but was unable to pinpoint exactly where he was. The Agenda, Part 1

While searching for Cheetor, Waspinator detected him, saying he caught the stink of an "unnatural"...present company excluded, of course. Later, Optimus Primal was able to smell Dinobot 2 coming. Feral Scream, Part 2

Very unique was that Depth Charge was able to smell the spark of Rampage. He commented that the newly born Dinobot 2 "stank of Rampage". Feral Scream, Part 1

Tarantulas had a distinctive odor about him. Dinobot said that it smelled like "vile corruption, a whiff of festering putrefication". Interestingly, it smelled just like the limburger sandwich that Rattrap had just eaten. The Low Road

Optics

Through Skyquake's optics, his colour scheme actually looks really really cool.

The optics on a Transformer mostly seem to perform in an identical way to human eyes, including all the flaws, such as the ability to be dazzled by bright light sources pointed directly at them. Atmospheres with a high particle content may require windshield wipers to keeps optic sensors clear.

While all Transformers can usually be assumed to see in the same visual spectrum of colours than humans see in, there are obviously exceptions who are completely colour-blind, and some Transformers demonstrate different perceptions (usually wherever the plot calls for it). Wreck-Gar, for instance, has 'magentic vision,' probably quite useful given the uniform reddish hue of his home planet of Junkion!

Surveillance Packages

File:Scr.gif

Scrounge's surveillance package in action.

Many Transformers possess sensor packages that allow them to record surveillance data for later review. Laserbeak in particular often serves in this function for the Decepticons.

Also of note are the surveillance sensors contained within the arm assembly of the Autobot Scrounge. He has boasted on numerous occasions that they are unique.

See also

• Circuits
• Processors