Sensor

**Sensors** are essential components of mechanical beings, especially Transformers, serving a wide variety of functions and feeding mechanoid information about the environment around them. Most Transformers are built with a set of standard senses—optic, audio, olfactory, tactile, 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.

### Photocells

Photocells are either a component of or a synonym for optical sensors. They can be shattered in battle, though this appears to be more of an annoyance than a serious injury.

### Equilibrium sensors

Equilibrium sensors help a Transformer keep their sense of balance.

### 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 l

eader Grimlock possessed olfactory sensors that were powerful enough to smell Dinosaur transform static.

### Optical sensors

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 keep optic sensors clear.

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

Optical sensors typically came in visored and non-visored varieties. Sometimes on the same character.

There are also some Transformers that possess optic weaponry, which allows them to emit beams from the optics. How this affects their vision, if at all, is unknown.
How Transformers "see" in their alternate forms has only been briefly touched on, however. In one story, it is explained that Transformers have some form of a linked visual network throughout their alternate form, whereas in other cases everyone is just drawn with big googly eyes inside their vehicle mode headlights.

### Targeting sensors

Targeting sensors are sensors that help a Transformer locate and identify a hostile entity. While hunting Autobots through a haze of dirt underwater, Lugnut's targeting sensors managed to locate a body within the haze. Pleased his sensors had succeeded, he threw a punch with full force... hitting Blitzwing. Apparently, his targeting sensors had failed him.

### Surveillance packages

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