Stasis lock

Stasis lock is a critical state of being for Transformers. Stasis lock is a sort of coma that allows a Transformer to stay alive, running at the lowest level of power, despite massive energy loss or traumatic damage. Stasis lock can come about in a few different ways.

The first way is from a shock of massive damage. When the Ark crashed on Earth all of the occupants on board were retconned into emergency stasis lock. At various times during the Beast Wars combatants had to be returned to their respective bases due to going into stasis lock after being badly damaged.

The second way seems to be a more gradual process and can come about from damage and energy depletion over a longer period of time. Dinobot was told by his internal computer to go into stasis lock or risk losing his spark. This method is a conscious decision, and the Transformer can choose to override stasis lock, unlike the first way which seems to be an unconscious action by the Transformer's on-board computer.

Note: The concept of stasis lock was first introduced in the Beast Wars television series. Stasis lock was retconned into being a Generation One term and has since been applied to nearly all subsequent versions of the Transformers story.

Animated

In Transformers Animated, "stasis lock" is used in a different sense - through the use of stasis cuffs, a Transformer can be prevented from moving or using any special powers they possess - without being rendered unconscious or incapable of speech. Sentinel Prime, when placed in this condition by Optimus Prime, referred to this as "stasis lock". Mission Accomplished