Transformers Technology
|
|
Technology used by the transformers is either invented by the intelligent robots themselves, or borrowed from other cultures (such as nucleon). Other concepts, such as transformers aging and death, are discussed here.
| Contents |
Master Process
In the American G1 Comic and Cartoon, the master process was acquired from Nebulos. It allows humans to become components of transformers in a process referred to as Binary Bonding. Still experimental, the results of this are unpredictable. Known master technologies are:
- Headmaster: A human(oid) becomes the head module of the robot-form transformer, and the pilot of the vehicle mode. In the Japanese continuity, the original headmasters were smaller transformers until Transformers: Masterforce, where adolecents became "Headmaster Juniors".
- Targetmaster: A humanoid transforms into a highly-accurate intelligent weapon for use by the Transformer. Prototypical targetmaster technology was being researched on Cybertron in the distant past.
- Powermaster: An enhanced humanoid provides biologic energy and abilities to a Transformer; such as the ability to withstand hostile environments to which the biological life form is well suited.
- Actionmaster: Transformers who have undergone this process have lost the ability to transform; Instead, they have bodies completely engineered to peak performance in robot mode.
- Micromaster: Transformers who are smaller than normal size Transformers (more to the scale of later "Beast Wars" era Transformers) with lesser energy requirements. Usually looked at by the larger Transformers as cannon fodder. These Transformers were created because of Energon shortages on Cybertron.
In the Japanese Continuity, the Master process can use either humanoids or robots to form the binary bonding component. In fact, the initial Headmasters saga included civilian Transformers taken to the planet Master by Fortress. There, they began to experiment with how to transform, inventing the Transtector technology that forms the basis of the Headmasters and Powermasters.
After returning to Cybertron, Headmaster technology (called the Masterforce) was modified to allow humans to become Headmasters and Powermasters; the first were a group of six children named the Headmaster Juniors.
Gestalt Technology
Note: The word gestalt, meaning combined Transformer, is a fan-made term and not officially used by Hasbro.
The art and science of combination requires special modifications to both the shell of the transformer and the spark. A group of transformers, such as the Constructicons, can combine to form a much larger and more powerful being. In the case of the Constructicons, this is Devastator.
Devastator was the first gestalt, the result of Constructicon attempts to build a better weapon. The technology leaked to the Autobot side and eventually Autobot gestalts, including Superion and Computron were eventually formed.
The gestalt technology has its downsides as well; The primary one being that the gestalt can only do what all of its components agree upon. For beings such as Devastator, that is typically wanton destruction and nothing else. Computron's main problem is that every problem must be worked out to every conceivable solution; even with Computron's enhanced computers, this is a time-consuming task, which for example led to his quick defeat by Abominus (another Decepticon gestalt) around the time of the Hate Plague.
Gestalts
- Autobot Gestalts
- Superion (Aerialbots)
- Defensor (Protectobots)
- Computron (Technobots)
- Decepticon Gestalts
- Devastator (Constructicons)
- Menasor (Stunticons)
- Bruticus (Combaticons)
- Abominus (Terrorcons)
- Predaking (Predacons)
- Piranacon (Seacons)
- Monstructor (Pretender Monsters)
Life, Death and the Matrix
Birth of a Transformer
The life essence of a Transformer is called a Spark, an incadescent sphere of light that is, in essence, both the heart and soul of the Transformer. Following the construction of the Transformer body, Sparks can be implanted in a variety of ways, depending on the continuity.
- In the comic continuity, all Transformer life comes from Primus, and as Sparks are a newer concept, it has been retroactively established via covention comics and other writings that Sparks are a fragment of Primus. Primus can either bestow this upon creation - as he did with the original Transformers he created - or it can be done using the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, which is, in this continuity, the genetic Matrix of Primus.
- In the cartoon continuity (where the life essence of a Transformer was twice-referred to as a "laser core"), the only way to bestow full life was via the supercomputer, Vector Sigma, as was the case with the Stunticons and the Aerialbots. Most other attempts at creating life without using Vector Sigma to bestow them with real minds and souls have resulted in dull-witted, unstable creatures of low intelligence, prone to rage (the Dinobots, Trypticon).
- In the Beast Wars and Beast Machines continuities, the nature of Transformer life and death is expanded on with the revelation of the existence of the Allspark (also called the Matrix). It is the source of all Sparks that exist, have existed, or ever will exist, sending them out into the world to live, so that when they die, they will return to the Allspark and share their experiences, thereby increasing the collective wisdom and knowledge of the Allspark. Vector Sigma is revealed to have access to the Allspark, explaining how it could program robots with life (by implanting a Spark in them through its access to the Allspark), and retroactively, it can easily be assumed that the Matrix object was a gate to the Allspark as well. As Beast Wars and Beast Machines are officially set in neither the comic nor cartoon universe, but a universe that takes aspects from both, this is also another explanation for how the Matrix object could bestow life (by transferring a Spark through its connection to the Allspark) in the comic continuity.
- Circa Beast Wars, Transformer life seems to be entirely generated at facilities nicknamed "The Matrix" and "The Pit," Maximal and Predacon facilities respectively which produce Protoforms - raw, undeveloped Transformers. Upon the creation of each Protoform, the Allspark bestows upon this life-to-be a Spark.
Other methods of creation include:
- Cloning: A new technology recently developed allows for the cloning of one transformer into another; identical at the time of cloning, differences start to appear immediately.
- Experiments in creating immortal life have ended with horrible consequences: The "bad spark", also known as Protoform X. Protoform X was reformatted by Beast Wars Megatron into Rampage, and was eventually destroyed by having raw energon forced through his spark.
- Transplantation: In a few circumstances, the transplant of a "living spark" for life support, power enhancement, or just to change bodies has occurred. For instance, in the Beast Wars, Megatron claimed the G1 Megatron's spark as his own, changing form into that of a dragon and gaining more power when he did so. Also in Beast Wars, Optimus Primal removed the Matrix/Spark from G1 Optimus Prime's chest plate after Megatron fired a shot into Prime's head in order to sustain Prime's life. In the Dreamwave comic line, Ratbat was moved from a large, average-sized transformer body into that of a Cassette, where he became a minion of Soundwave.
Transformer Aging
YoungA3.jpg
In a few unusual cases, Transformers have displayed the ability to physically age. Most Transformers' ages are clear from their personalities, defined by their life experiences - for example, Hot Rod is the equivalent of a teenager or young adult, while Kup and Ironhide are old warhorses. In Kup's case, he physically appears older through simple wear to his body over time. However, at the opposite end of the specutrum, there is the most ancient Autobot, Alpha Trion, who has appeared in three distinct stages of life, (a million years old, three million years old, and twelve million years old), with a suitably different physical construction each time (including the growth of facial "hair").
Although aging takes its toll on performance and appearance, there are no known incidences of transformers dying from "old age". Presumably, with regular maintanence and Energon, a Transformer could live forever.
Stasis Lock and Death
Prime_dead.jpg
Stasis lock is an operational state meant to protect the spark of a transformer following severe trauma; it is similar to a coma in humans. Stasis lock is known to be able to maintain the spark of a transformer for millions of years if necessary. Once in stasis lock, outside intervention is required to reactive the transformer.
In the event of critical damage, outside life support mechanisms can support the body of a transformer while the spark is transplanted. This is a rare occurrence as usually the spark is terminated quickly after the damage is inflicted. A notable occurrence of this happening is Optimus Primal taking the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, and Optimus Prime's spark, during the Beast Wars on prehistoric Earth while Teletraan I and other beast warriors were repairing the incredible damage to his body.
In the future, a technology called the CR Chamber can reverse serious damage to transformers. This process takes time, but is not as lengthy as manual repair.
Death of a Transformer can follow irreversible (mortal) stasis lock or be caused by a sudden traumatic injury (Such as a close-proximity nuclear explosion, or spark excision). A few weapons, such as a high powered fusion cannon, are known to be powerful enough to cause severe enough damage to immediately terminate a transformer. Also, the utter destruction of a body can and usually does cause death.
Transformers who die from stasis lock usually turn a neutral grey, as the color leaves their living metal bodies. (Ref: Optimus Prime, various Insecticons and Seekers, Starscream (debatable, as he was incinerated), Blaster, Soundwave). Ultra Magnus did not turn grey, however, this may be because his actual body was encased in armor which may not have been constructed of "living" metal (theory).
Beyond Death
It is known that some or all of a transformers essence moves to a separate spatial realm accessible by the Matrix or into the Matrix itself upon spark termination.
In rare occasions, a destroyed transformer can be brought back to life, using the proper knowledge. Quintessons have been known to do this; The transformer deity Primus can also accomplish this, but it is beyond the scope of modern transformers technology. The method of a spark returning to the body has yet to be pinpointed, however it is believed an outside force, seen or unseen, may guide the spark back to the body, perhaps utilizing Zone Energy. Incidence of this occurring include the Quintesson revival of Optimus Prime, and Rhinox's recovery of Optimus Primal after a transwarp exposion in space destroyed his original body. Starscream as well was given a new body, but this is a unique case as Starscream's spark is believed to be indestructible.