Is Autobot Robot Legit
Real-life Transformers: how far off are we from Optimus Prime and …
CultureFilmTransformersTen years on from the original movie, the titular robots in disguise haven’t arrived in the real world yet… or have they? Ben Travis tracks down the real-life Transformers that are living in our midst…Advanced robotics: Project J-Deite has made a quarter-sized real life Bumblebee Transformer (Project J-Deite)When Transformers first arrived in cinemas in 2007, it played into the ultimate adolescent fantasy: what if your rusty old first car was actually a shape-shifting robot who helped you save the world and get the girl? Sadly, for now the story remains exactly that – a fantasy. While the Autobots and Decepticons have continued to duke it out on the big screen, real-life Transformers still remain largely in ever, some engineers across the world are making significant progress in their attempts to create robot vehicles. Here are the projects transforming fiction into fact. Creating a buzzA collaboration between Japanese scientists called Project J-deite aims to create a full walking Transformer by 2020. That end date is still a few years off, but the mission is well underway — the most recent video update showed off a ¼ scale Bumblebee model that walks and drives — although, sadly, can’t yet communicate through the car radio. But, there’s still time for development. Busting a moveThe Humvee Bioloid is much smaller than its real-life military counterpart, and was developed by engineer JK Han at Virginia Tech. It’s probably not ready to take on Megatron in battle yet, not least thanks to its table-top size, but once transformed it delivers a few dance moves and pulls off a Usain Bolt pose. If it ever becomes fully-formed, it’s a prime candidate to join the Autobots. Elementary machineThe closest thing the world has seen to a genuine Cybertronian comes from Turkish company Letrons. Its team spent eight months creating Antimon, a life-size Transformer made from a shiny, red BMW, with an electronic battery, 120-degree neck movement, and remote control movement software. And, this is just the start — Letrons says its team will be working on different models “in the near future”. Maybe the AllSpark does exist after all…Take our fun quiz to find out which character you are
How Real Transformers Work – Science | HowStuffWorks
Without a doubt, the HowStuffWorks staff is anxious about the upcoming “Transformers” movie. We don’t just wonder whether it will be good. We wonder whether we’ll see robots with Transformers’ capabilities during our lifetimes. While full-scale Transformers seem a little implausible – and impractical – it turns out that some existing robots have a lot in common with Transformers. In this article, we’ll explore what these transforming robots look like, how they work and how they’re similar to Transformers like Optimus ‘ll begin with an analysis of Prime himself. He’s enormous and impressive, but could he ever be real? To find out, we asked engineer Michael D. Belote what it would take to build a full-scale tractor-trailer that can convert into a bipedal robot. In other words, what would it take to make a life-sized version of Optimus Prime? First, Prime has to be a self-reconfiguring robot. Some self-reconfiguring robots, or robots that can change their shapes to perform different tasks, exist today. However, they’re very different from Optimus Prime. As Belote explains:With self-reconfigurable robots, the engineer typically prefers to keep the individual, mobile modules small, simple, inexpensive, and interchangeable; in the case of Optimus Prime, however, we are dealing with a robot whose individual modules are as large as the cab of a semi truck. Even if building such modules were possible, the expense would be exorbitant, and the extraordinary complexity would make it virtually impossible to ever get all of the systems operating properly engineers figured out how to make interchangeable modules on Optimus Prime’s scale, it might still be impossible to provide the power to move them. In his vehicle form, Optimus Prime can run on ordinary diesel fuel. But walking is far less efficient than rolling on wheels. In order to walk, Prime would need far more power than a diesel engine could provide. Here’s Belote’s analysis of how to handle Prime’s power requirements:Traditional robots are built upon one of three power sources-electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic. Due to the extreme weights involved, hydraulic power is the most likely source for Prime, because hydraulic actuators provide very high power-to-weight ratios (large power output for small power inputs) hydraulic power might allow Prime to walk, but the hydraulic system itself would create a different set of problems. “A tank or reservoir must be added to hold the hydraulic fluid, ” says Belote, “hydraulic pumps are necessary; a secondary power source must be used to power the pump; valves are necessary to meet the appropriate pressures and flow rates. ” In addition, a hydraulically-powered Prime would have to be lined with piping to carry the hydraulic fluid. These pipes, along with Prime’s fuel lines and electrical wiring, would have to remain undamaged or even untouched during surviving the transformation to robot form, Prime would then have to walk as a biped. Belote describes what it would take for this to happen: Since traditional semis frequently exceed 30 tons in weight, the final weight of Prime could easily be in the 35 to 40 ton range. Compare this to the world’s best “walking” robot, Honda’s ASIMO robot, which has a total weight of 119 pounds and yet can only walk for about 40 minutes (electrically powered) and at a max speed of less than 2 mph. The weight ratio for ASIMO is 2. 3 lbs per inch, compared to the weight ratio of Prime, which would likely exceed 75 to 80 lbs per inch — a thirty-fold addition, robots cannot easily mimic the motion of walking. “With a robot, ” Belote explains, “there is a direct command (lift leg ‘x’ amount, lean forward ‘y’ amount, extend leg downward ‘z’ amount, and so on). With humans, however, there is no ‘feedback’ mechanism – your brain does not constantly communicate to your legs on where to be placed. Instead, you simply lean forward and ‘fall, ‘ setting your leg to absorb the shock when your foot makes contact with the floor. “So it’s not likely that we could see a working Optimus Prime or robot like him in our lifetimes. But robots that can change their shape or become any shape already exist. We’ll look at some of them – and how they compare to Prime – in the next RobotsThe coolest thing about Transformers, of course, is that they can take two completely different shapes. Most can be bipedal robots or working vehicles. Some can instead transform into weapons or electronic devices. A Transformer’s two forms have vastly different strengths and is completely different from most real robots, which are usually only good at performing one task or a few related tasks. The Mars Exploration Rovers, for example, can do the following:Generate power with solar cells and store it in batteriesDrive across the landscapeTake picturesDrill into rocksUse spectrometers to record temperatures, chemical compositions, x-rays and alpha particlesSend the recorded data back to Earth using radio wavesAn Exploration Rover wouldn’t be very good at tasks that don’t fit into these categories. It can’t, for example, assemble a bridge, fit into very small spaces or build other robots. In other words, it would make a lousy search-and-rescue robot, and it wouldn’t fit in at all in an automated ‘s why engineers are developing reconfiguring robots. Like Transformers, these robots can change their shape to fit the task at hand. But instead of changing from one shape to one other shape, like a bipedal robot to a tractor-trailer, reconfiguring robots can take many shapes. They’re much smaller than real Transformers would be; some reconfiguring robot modules are small enough to fit in a person’s hand. A module is essentially a small, relatively simple robot or piece of a robot. Modular robots are made of lots of these small, identical modules. A modular robot can consist of a few modules or many, depending on the robot’s design and the task it needs to perform. Some modular robots currently exist only as computer simulations; others are still in the early stages of development. But they all operate on the same basic principle – lots of little robots can combine to create one big dules can’t do much by themselves. A reconfiguring system also has to have:Connections between the modulesSystems that govern how the modules move in relation to one anotherMost modular, reconfiguring robots fit into one of three categories: chain, lattice and modular configuration. Chain robots are long chains that can connect to one another at specific points. Depending on the number of chains and where they connect, these robots can resemble snakes or spiders. They can also become rolling loops or bipedal, walking robots. A set of modular chains could navigate an obstacle course by crawling through a tunnel as a snake, crossing rocky terrain as a spider and riding a tricycle across a bridge as a biped. Examples of chain robots are Palo Alto Research Center’s (PARC) Polybot and Polypod and NASA’s Snakebot. Most need a human or, in theory, another robot, to manually secure the connections with ttice RobotsThe basic idea of a lattice robot is that swarms of small, identical modules that can combine to form a larger robot. Several prototype lattice robots already exist, but some models exist only as computer simulations. Lattice robots move by crawling over one another, attaching to and detaching from connection points on neighboring robots. It’s like the way the tiles move in a sliding tile puzzle. This method of movement is called substrate reconfiguration – the robots can move only along points within the lattice of robots. Lattice modules can either have self-contained power sources, or they can share power sources through their connections to other ttice robots can move over difficult terrain by climbing over one another, following the shape of the terrain, or they can form a solid, stable surface to support other structures. Enough lattice robots can create just about any shape. Computer simulations show them changing from a pile of parts to a teacup and from a dog to a couch. The modules can combine to make flat surfaces, ladders, movable appendages and virtually any other imaginable shape. So a lattice robot is more like a Terminator T-1000 than a botics labs have created and theorized several lattice robot systems:PARC’s Telecube and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Rus Robotics Laboratory’s Crystal use molecules that expand, contract and attach to other ‘s Proteo is a theoretical lattice robot that exists only as computer simulations. Proteo is a collection of rhombic dodecahedrons (twelve-sided structures with rhomboid-shaped faces). Its modules move by rolling over each others’ Robotics Laboratory’s Molecule’s modules are made from two cubes connected at a 90-degree angle. As a result, its movement looks a little different from robots made of individual cubes. You can see a demonstration of how Molecule moves at the Rus Robotics Laboratory Web siteLike lattice robots, mobile reconfiguration robots are small, identical modules that can combine to form bigger robots. However, they don’t need their neighbors’ help to get from place to place – they can move around on their own. Mobile configuration robots are a lot like cartoon depictions of schools of fish or flocks of birds that combine to create a tool or structure. They move independently until they need to come together to accomplish a specific task. Swarm-bots, a project by the Future and Emerging Technologies program in the European Union, are mobile reconfiguration though these robots look very different from one another, they have many similarities in how they move and operate. We’ll look at these next. A Swarm of Parallel BrainsIn addition to their size and modular structure, self-reconfiguring robots are different from Transformers in one major way. Optimus Prime and other Transformers are self-aware and can make independent decisions, and they keep their brains in one location within their bodies. A Transformer’s brain controls each of its moving parts, and the parts themselves have little if any most modular robot configurations, though, each module has some decision-making power and gets to help figure out where it’s going to move. Instead of one module being the boss of all the others, planning and movement capabilities are distributed across all of the idea — a swarm of little robots, each of which gets to decide where it’s going to go — might sound disastrous. But the modules are programmed with a set of geometry-based rules about how to move. They’re also programmed with algorithms that govern their movement. These algorithms and rules allow the robots to figure out how to change from one shape into another and to move across very complex maneuvers, the robots instead plan out a series of sub-shapes rather than trying to make a major change in one step. For example, a lattice robot that needs to change from a random pile of modules to a bipedal robot might first form the legs. Then, it might use those legs as a scaffold to build the upper half of the this time, many of these robots can make simple transitions from one shape to another on their own. More complex changes might require the help of a scientist, making the collection of robots semi-autonomous rather than autonomous. A few robots that are still in the early stages of development receive all of their instruction from a computer workstation and make no decisions on their rrently, most re-configuring robots have their own system of rules and algorithms, and rule sets work only for the robots for which they were designed. In other words, the rules for Rus Robotics Laboratory’s Crystal won’t work with ever, scientists are using computer simulations to research movement theories that could work regardless of what a robotic module looks like. These theories could establish ground rules for robot movement, including:Establishing how many steps it takes to make a finished structurePreventing collisions between modulesAllowing the modules to create a structure that is consistently stable and does not collapse as the robots moveMaking sure that chains or collections of modules will be able to reach the necessary pointsIf successful, this research could make it easier for engineers to make new, working modular robots that follow the same rules of though these robots don’t walk and talk like Transformers do, they can change into virtually any shape, given the right programming and instructions. To find out more about them and about Transformers, see the links on the next More InformationRelated HowStuffWorks ArticlesHow the Mars Exploration Rover WorksHow Robots WorkHow ASIMO WorksMore Great LinksRus Robotics Laboratory: Modular RobotsModular Robotics at PARCDARPA Microrobot ProjectSourcesCarnegie Mellon University. “I-Cubes. “, Arancha. “Self-Reconfiguration Planning for a Class of Modular Robots. ” Xerox Palo Alto Research Microbot Project, Kendra. “The Shape of Bots to Come. ” Wired. October 7, 2002. gizmos/0, 1452, 55421, Modular Robotics: Chain.. Modular Robotics: Lattice.. Taxonomy of Statistically Stable Locomotion modrobots/chain/polypod/mlPARC: Modular Robotics. Robotics Laboratory. Modular Self-configuring Robots., P. S. et al. “Reconfigurable Robots for All-terrain Exploration. ” Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of achtman, Noah. “The Supersonic Shape-shifting Bomber. ” Popular Science. July 2006. der Helm, Peter A. Structural Information Theory and its Applications., Ying, et al. “A Platform for Studying Locomotion Systems: Modular Reconfigurable Robots. ” System and Practice Lab, Palo Alto Research Center.
Optimus Prime – Wikipedia
Optimus PrimeTransformers characterOptimus Prime box art showing his original G1 toy designVoiced by (English)Peter Cullen (The Transformers, Rise of the Dark Spark, Transformers: Devastation, Transformers: Prime, Transformers: Rescue Bots, Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 TV series), Transformers: Titans Return)[1] Ron Hayden (20th Anniversary toy sound base, Universe Flash cartoon) Neil Kaplan (Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 TV series)) Garry Chalk (Unicron Trilogy) Robert Belgrade (Transformers (2003 video game))[2] David Kaye (Transformers: Animated) Jon Bailey (Transformers: Combiner Wars)Voiced by (Japanese)Tesshō GendaSatoshi HashimotoToru OhkawaKatsuyuki KonishiTaiten KusunokiHiroki TakahashiToshiyuki MorikawaIn-universe informationAffiliationAutobot/MaximalJapanese nameInochi, ConvoySub-groupAction Masters, Autorollers, Combat Heroes, Deluxe Vehicles, Go-Bots, Masterpiece, Primes, Powermasters, VoyagersFunctionAutobot Leader, Supreme Commander, Chief CommanderRank10PartnerRoller, Hi-QMotto”Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. ” (Generation 1)”No sacrifice is too great in the service of freedom. ” (Classics)Alternate modesFreightliner Cab-over-engine Class 8 truck, Cybertronian truck, COBRA Sentry & Missile System tank, 1920s style truck, Peterbilt Truck, Mid-90s Peterbilt 4964EX Tanker Truck, Lamborghini Diablo, Dump truck, Dodge Ram SRT-10, Nissan GT-R, Bat
Optimus Prime, known in Japan as Convoy (コンボイ, Konboi), is a fictional character created by the Transformers franchise. He is a Cybertronian, a fictional extraterrestrial species of sentient self-configuring modular robotic lifeforms (e. g. : cars and other objects), a synergistic blend of biological evolution and technological engineering. In almost every version of the mythos, Optimus is the leader of the Autobots, a faction of Transformers who are rivals of the Decepticons, another faction. He is defined by his strong moral character and is almost always portrayed as the primary hero of the story, opposing the evil Decepticon leader Megatron.
Over the history of the Transformers franchise, Optimus has been portrayed by a variety of actors, such as Peter Cullen, Garry Chalk, Neil Kaplan, David Kaye and Jake Tillman. He is considered an icon of popular culture and has been featured in countless forms of media.
Animated character biography
Optimus Prime (formerly known as Orion Pax) is constantly, if not always, depicted as having strong moral character, excellent leadership, and sound decision-making skills, and possesses brilliant military tactics, powerful martial arts, and advanced extraterrestrial weaponry. Optimus Prime has a strong sense of honor and justice, being dedicated to building peaceful and mutually beneficial co-existence with humans, the protection of life and liberty of all sentient species. [3] As the current Matrix of Leadership bearer, Optimus Prime is the de facto leader of the Autobots, a faction of a transforming species of synthetic intelligence from the planet Cybertron. The Autobots are constantly waging civil war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons. According to Bob Budiansky, co-writer of the Transformers series, Dennis O’Neil was responsible for his name.
Optimus Prime is usually depicted as being a member of an ancient Transformers race called the Dynasty of Primes, often receiving the title “The Last Prime” in many stories, in which he is depicted as being the last of the Primes. In the Transformers: Covenant of Primus, it was established that Optimus Prime was the last born of the original Thirteen Transformers created by the creator Primus. It was his unique spark and his inspiring reassurance that “All are One” that allowed the Primes to rally and succeed in their battle against the Chaos Bringer Unicron. When tragedy at last ended the era of the Primes and brought forth the new race of lesser descendant Transformers he alone chose to be reborn in the Well of All Sparks as one of them, that he might know them and their needs more completely. All memory of his past life gone, he took the name “Orion Pax” and sought his way like any other robot on the new world becoming Optimus Prime once more when receiving the Matrix of Leadership when Cybertron faced a new enemy in his former friend, Megatron and his army of followers, the Decepticons. This brings a Great War to their planet of Cybertron. Optimus’s origins and personality can vary depending on which “universe” he’s seen in. This origin is the most consistent between the various incarnations. Further differences are listed in the respective sections below.
Generation 1
The first generation Optimus Prime transforms into a Freightliner FL86 cab over semi truck. [4] Within his chest is a mystic talisman, known as the Autobot Matrix of Leadership or the “Creation Matrix”, carried by all Autobot leaders. [5] When Optimus transforms, his tractor cab disconnects to become a sentient robot, and his trailer opens to reveal an ion blaster, forming a combat deck. [6] The combat deck supports a mobile battle-station and command headquarters armed with assorted artillery and beam weapons that fire automatically. The combat deck can also serve as a radio antenna for battlefield communications between the Autobots. The combat deck also included “Roller”, a mobile scout buggy meant to scout behind enemy lines. When Roller is deployed, Optimus can see and hear what Roller sees and hears. [7] Injury to one component is felt by each of the others. If the combat deck or Roller were to be destroyed, Prime could survive. However, despite the slight degree of autonomy they possess, the combat deck and Roller would not be able to survive without Optimus.
In the animated series, Optimus is able to fire short-range optic blasts, project holographic maps, and deploy hydro-foils, designed by Wheeljack, to traverse bodies of water with ease. In the animated series, Optimus was also given the ability to retract his right-hand unit and replace it with a glowing axe. [8] Across the assorted continuities of the original Transformers universe, there have been various interpretations of Optimus Prime. One of Prime’s most notable characteristics over all continuities his unswaying commitment to leadership by example. The animated series’ version of Optimus Prime is depicted as a straightforward, wise, and upbeat battlefield general. Additionally, the animated series’ version of Optimus dislikes rap music, putting him at odds with music-loving characters like Jazz and Blaster. In the Marvel Comics series, in addition to these characteristics, Prime is secretly plagued by self-doubt and a conflicted sense of pacifism that often makes him an extremely reluctant warrior.
The original specification of the Generation 1 Optimus Prime specifies that Optimus Prime consists of three components: the humanoid “Brain Center” (which transforms to the truck cab), the “Combat Deck” (which transforms to the truck trailer) and the “Scout Car”, a non-transforming six-wheeled buggy called Roller, which can ride inside the truck trailer. All three components can function independently, but injury to one is felt by the other two. However, in by far the most of the fiction, the humanoid robot actually is Optimus Prime, with the other two components treated as mere accessories that disappear off the scene when Optimus Prime transforms from truck to robot mode.
G1 Biography
Originally, Optimus Prime was created as the leader of the Autobots, though it is unknown how he was created or his origins. In a possible future, Megatron was threatened by the existence of the Aerialbots and had Shockwave build a time machine to send them back in time to get rid of them. However, he only ended up changing history for the better. In the revised timeline, Optimus Prime began his life as a robot named Orion Pax, a mostly defenseless dock worker during the Golden Age of Cybertron nine million years ago, with a girlfriend named Ariel and a best friend named Dion. During this time, a new breed of robot with new flight capabilities appeared on the planet, which the naive Orion and other younger robots idolized. When Megatron, the leader of the new group of robots, approached him with inquiries about using one of the dock warehouses, Orion was swayed by Megatron. Both Orion and Ariel were severely wounded when Megatron and his forces attacked in order to claim the energy stored there. Searching for someone to help them, the time-displaced Aerialbots took Orion and Ariel to the ancient Autobot, Alpha Trion, who used them as the first subjects for the new reconstruction process he had developed involving rebuilding the frail Autobot frames into more battle-hardy configurations.
With this reconstruction, Orion Pax became Optimus Prime, the first of the Autobot warriors. [9] Optimus took the mantle of leadership as the civil war against the Decepticons erupted, and would remain in that position for the next nine million years. Ariel was rebuilt into Elita One, the commander of the Autobot resistance on Cybertron. The fate of Dion is left unrevealed. It has been speculated by fans that Dion might have become Ironhide or Ultra Magnus just as Orion and Ariel became Optimus and Elita, but this remains fan speculation only, and, his close friendship with Optimus notwithstanding, there is no evidence to support the idea.
As the leader of the Autobots, Prime headed up their mission to search for new sources of energy to revitalize the depleted Cybertron. Optimus vowed to Elita that he would return from his mission for her, but just before the launch of the Ark, Optimus was mistakenly led to believe that Elita was killed. Shortly after its launch, the Autobots’ craft was attacked by the Decepticons’ space cruiser, the Nemesis, and boarded by Megatron and the Decepticons. In the ensuing struggle, the G-forces of a nearby planet pulled both craft down, and the Autobots’ ship crashed into a volcano, thrusting all the occupants into emergency stasis. Four million years later, in the Earth year 1984, a volcanic eruption jarred the ship’s computer, Teletraan I, back to life. The computer reactivated the Decepticons, programming them with new Earth-based disguise modes. As a parting gesture, Starscream fired upon the Autobot ship, creating a landslide. The vibrations from that landslide knocked Prime into the path of the computer’s restoration beam, restoring him to life, thus beginning the war anew on Earth.
Over the course of the next twenty years, the Decepticons succeeded in seizing control of all of Cybertron, forcing the Autobots to operate from their new city on Earth and two bases on Cybertron’s moons. In the Earth year 2005, Prime, stationed on Moonbase One, dispatched troops to Earth to acquire energy for an upcoming strike on Cybertron. The Decepticons, however, got wind of the plan and used the shuttle run to attack Autobot City. A distress call summoned Prime and support troops to Earth. In the fearsome, ensuing battle with Megatron, Optimus Prime sustained fatal wounds, but not before turning the tide of battle and forcing the Decepticons to flee. Despite the efforts of Perceptor, Optimus Prime went offline after passing the Matrix and role of leader to Ultra Magnus, despite protestations. His last words were “Until that day… ’til all are one. ” The Matrix later fell into the hands of Galvatron, a recreated Megatron, and was finally taken back by the young Autobot Hot Rod. As the Matrix reformatted him, Hot Rod heard the voice of Optimus Prime saying, “Arise, Rodimus Prime. ” Instead of giving the Matrix back to Ultra Magnus, Rodimus decided to take the duty of leadership, with Magnus as his second-in-command.
Later, during one of those times when Rodimus was in command, a small group of Autobots and human allies Spike and Daniel Witwicky fled to the Autobot Mausoleum from the Decepticons. There, they discover that Optimus Prime was somehow resurrected. Rodimus then returns the Matrix to Optimus, reverting to his old self. However, Optimus does not act the same as before. He also appears to be mind-controlled, causing him to go insane and commit violent acts, such as attempting to kill the group of Autobots and to trick the other Autobots on Cybertron to fly into a trap set by the Quintessons. As Hot Rod confronts him, Prime has a flashback of his resurrection at the hands of the Quintessons, who reprogrammed him in order to lead the Autobots into the trap. The influence of the Matrix eventually allows him to overcome the programming. He stops attacking Hot Rod, and returns the Matrix. Afterward, Optimus orders the Autobot fleet to move away from the trap. He pilots the Autobot flagship to the asteroid where the trap is set, triggering an explosion that seemingly kills him once again.
The death of Optimus Prime in The Transformers: The Movie received a strongly negative reaction from fans, especially the young audience, so screenwriters decided to bring him back into the series. In the subsequent season 3 finale, “The Return of Optimus Prime”, it was revealed that a group of humans had actually managed to retrieve his body prior to the destruction of the ship, but he was now contaminated by strange particles released in the explosion. Using Optimus’s body to lure the Autobots, an anti-Transformer scientist attempted to attack them with these particles, only to release a ‘hate plague’ that turned all those infected with it against others. With the plague spreading rapidly, Rodimus Prime ordered the Autobot Sky Lynx to rescue a Quintesson in the hope that it would be able to bring Optimus back to life to lead the remaining uninfected against the plague victims. After this plan was a success, Optimus was eventually able to reclaim the Matrix of Leadership from Rodimus Prime and learn that the plague could be countered with wisdom, prompting him to sacrifice the accumulated knowledge of the Matrix to restore all those victims of the plague to normal. With the Matrix now empty, Optimus mused that all would be a little wiser now from the knowledge it had given them, and it was up to them all to refill it.
While the Transformers animated series came to an end in America in 1987 after The Rebirth, production was continued in Japan with three new, exclusive animated series spin-offs to continue the story. The first of these series, Transformers: The Headmasters, supplanted the events of The Rebirth. With the Decepticons defeated, the Autobots entered into an even closer relationship with Earth. The Autobots also began the colonization of other worlds, the first of which was the planet Athenia, where Optimus Prime was stationed. It soon became apparent, however, that the consequences of releasing the energy of the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague were more far-reaching than Optimus had anticipated. Without the energy of the Matrix to act as a balancing factor, Vector Sigma had become destabilized. The Decepticons suddenly returned to exploit this, assaulting Cybertron in order to seize control of the mega-computer. Prime took a squad of troops to aid in the battle on the planet. When the arrival of the Autobot Headmasters tipped the battle in their favor, Prime broke off from the main attack and headed down into the depths of the planet, planning on stabilizing Vector Sigma at any cost.
While the other Autobots searched for the Matrix on Earth, Optimus Prime searched for Vector Sigma, guided through the dangers of the planet’s catacombs by the spirit of Alpha Trion. Prime eventually arrived at the computer, only to find his way barred by Cyclonus and Scourge. At that moment, Hot Rod arrived with the Matrix, the same with which Alpha Trion merged, re-energizing it. The Matrix transformed Hot Rod back into Rodimus Prime and, for the first time, the two Primes fought side by side and defeated Galvatron. Before Rodimus could implement the Matrix to stabilize Vector Sigma, however, Optimus Prime merged himself with the computer, restoring its balance to save the planet. Optimus Prime sacrificed himself, dying again only a few short episodes after his rebirth. Later, Prime would make a final and permanent return in the Japanese Transformers continuity, Battlestars: Return of Convoy. This entry was only available in print, appearing in the TV Magazine, a Japanese publication. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Spike Witwicky are the only main characters to appear in all of the seasons of The Transformers animated series and survived throughout the show. Optimus reappears in Generation 2: Redux, a Botcon magazine which is set after the events of the final episode as a flashback where he led the first generation of Autobots to pursue Galvatron and Zarak in deep space.
Beast Era
Optimus Primal, leader of the Maximal faction in the Beast Wars animated series, and toy line, is not Optimus Prime. Primal is one of the Maximal descendants of the Autobots, who took the name to honor Optimus Prime. The same applies to the Megatron of this era. Before the animated series began, Hasbro envisioned Prime and Megatron as their beast counterparts, but once the animated series began, this had already been changed. Design elements, such as Prime’s mouth-plate slit to add an actual mouth for the animated series and the first mini-comic that came packaged with the toys, suggest this. Nonetheless, Optimus Prime and Megatron were a major reason the Beast Wars began, as Megatron’s Predacon namesake traveled back in time seeking to alter history and insure that the Decepticons triumphed over the Autobots.
This agenda led the Predacon Megatron to attack the comatose Optimus Prime in stasis on prehistoric Earth, forcing Primal to take Prime’s Spark into his body in order to preserve his life while his body underwent repairs. Primal was subsequently mutated into the massive “Optimal Optimus” form, which shared elements of Prime’s form, prior to returning the Spark to its rightful place. The Maximals were occupied throughout the remainder of the series protecting Prime and the other Transformers aboard the crashed Ark until the Predacons were defeated. Various monuments to Optimus Prime appeared on Cybertron in Beast Machines, one of them a holographic statue in Iacon that Megatron took control of in order to trick Primal.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Optimus PrimeTransformers characterVoiced by (English)Neil KaplanVoiced by (Japanese)Satoshi HashimotoIn-universe informationAffiliationAutobotJapanese nameFire ConvoyFunctionAutobot Leader, Fire Supreme CommanderRank10PartnerUltra MagnusMotto”We will put out the fires of evil! “Alternate modesHino Brandlier fire engine
Optimus Prime is the fictional protagonist of the Transformers: Robots in Disguise (Fire Convoy in the original Japanese version) branch of the Transformers universe. [10] Based on the character of the same name, Prime once again leads the Autobots against the Decepticons. His voice actor, Neil Kaplan, does his voice in a style reminiscent of that of Peter Cullen, the voice of the original Optimus Prime. Wired Magazine nominated Fire Convoy as one 12 most ridiculous Transformers ideas of all time. [11]
Hidden on Earth as common, everyday vehicles, the Autobots are forced to emerge when Megatron and his Predacons arrive and wreak havoc in their attempts to attain the power of Earth’s various energy sources.
In this universe, Optimus Prime transforms into a fire engine. This is also the very first incarnation of Optimus Prime to transform into a Fire Engine. The front section of the vehicle detaches and becomes Prime himself, armed with “Blaze Blaster” cannons. To attack, he is able to use his headlights, known as the “Fire Flash” attack, and leg wheels, known as the “Gyro-Strike”. The rest of the vehicle transforms into a mobile battle station/refueling port/communications array and can combine with Prime as additional weapons and armor, forming his super mode referred to as “Super Fire Convoy”. The ladder/hose section houses Prime’s Power Stream water cannon, capable of shooting freezing streams of water, called his Blizzard Storm attack. It also contains a quartet of rocket launchers. In super mode, his feet contain missile launchers than can mount to the shoulders of his regular robot mode. In this mode, he can fire his fists for his “Flying Fist” attack.
Optimus Prime and his brother, Ultra Magnus, were created at the same time by Alpha Trion, but when Prime was chosen to carry the Matrix, Magnus felt ignored and was left carrying a grudge against his brother.
Later, Optimus pursued Megatron to Earth to stop him from pillaging the planet’s energy resources. Prime’s loyal team of Autobots clashed with Megatron’s Predacons on many occasions, stopping their schemes with the aid of Koji, a human whose father had been abducted by the Predacons. Prime and Koji went on to form a strong friendship, although Prime blamed himself for Koji’s father’s abduction. Optimus proved his bravery on many occasions, battling and defeating Sky-Byte in an underwater duel and personally rescuing Side Burn from a Predacon trap. Later, when Megatron targeted a tanker truck to scan as the alternate mode of the final protoform, Optimus Prime leaped into action in order to save the truck’s human driver and, as a result, the tanker, Prime and the human were all scanned. With an infusion of Megatron’s spark energy to complete the concoction, Scourge was born, emerging from his pod as a dark twin of Optimus Prime. Prime’s pleas to make Scourge remember his original Autobot loyalties fell on deaf ears.
Prime soon had other things to worry about, as Magnus arrived on Earth with the intention of taking the Matrix, which he believed was rightfully his, at all costs. Prime, who refused to fight back, was seriously injured by Magnus. Magnus tracked Optimus to a desert island, where he pretended to offer him the hand of friendship, only to attempt to absorb the Matrix for himself. During the struggle, the brothers combined into the form of Omega Prime, also known as the God Fire Convoy. Through this link, Magnus was also able to channel the power of the Matrix, which he used to supercharge the Autobot Brothers into newly colored forms. Prime went on to battle the Decepticons on many other occasions. Although Magnus remained a free agent, refusing to take orders from his brother, over time, his animosity dwindled, and he frequently helped the Autobots by combining with Prime to battle the Predacons and Decepticons. During the final battle with Megatron’s new form, Galvatron, the two brothers finally reconciled. Together, they faced Galvatron at the Earth’s core and defeated him once and for all.
In Car Robots, the original Japanese version of Robots in Disguise, there is not one singular Matrix, but multiple ones, each held by a high-ranking Autobot. God Magnus already possesses a Matrix, and simply seeks to steal the power of Fire Convoy’s to increase his own. The overspill supercharges the Autobot Brothers.
Unicron Trilogy
Optimus PrimeTransformers characterOptimus Prime in as he appears in Transformers: ArmadaVoiced by (English)Garry ChalkVoiced by (Japanese)Toru Ohkawa (Micron Legend) Katsuyuki Konishi (Superlink) Taiten Kusunoki (Galaxy Force)In-universe informationAffiliationAutobotJapanese nameConvoy (Micron Legend), Grand Convoy (Superlink), Galaxy Convoy (Galaxy Force)Sub-groupSuper Vehicles, Deluxe Vehicles, Deluxe BeastsFunctionAutobot Leader, Supreme Commander/Ultimate Supreme Commander/Super Ultimate Supreme Commander/High-speed Mobile Supreme CommanderRank10PartnerSparkplug, Jetfire and Overload (Armada) Primus, Wing Saber and Leobreaker (Cybertron)Motto”Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. ” (Armada) “Those who threaten peace will fall in pieces. ” (Energon) “All hands to combat! I will lead all to freedom with intelligence! ” (Galaxy Force)Alternate modesSemi truck, Fire engine/aircraft, mechanical gorilla
The “Unicron Trilogy” version of Optimus Prime is a fictional character of this branch of Transformers lore. Appearing in Transformers: Armada, Transformers: Energon and Transformers: Cybertron (known as the aforementioned trilogy), Optimus is the leader of the heroic Autobots. He often converted to his super combat mode. In all three series, Optimus’ English voice actor is Garry Chalk, who previously voiced Optimus Primal in Beast Wars and Beast Machines.
In Transformers: Armada and Transformers: Energon, Optimus Prime shares the role of main protagonist with Rad, Alexis, Carlos, Starscream and Hot Shot. The Optimus of this universe shares many similarities with his parallel universe versions, including nobility of spirit and a strong desire to protect all humans on Earth. In this continuity, the two sides are not looking for Energon, but a small race of power-enhancing Transformers known as Mini-Cons. Optimus led his small band of Autobots to stop Megatron from acquiring their power for himself.
In his first appearance in the series, Optimus looks similar to the original G1 Optimus Prime until he copies himself with a semi-truck and his design in robot mode changes. Soon after, he retrieves his Mini-Con partner, Sparkplug. The cab of his truck mode detaches to form Optimus himself, while the trailer transforms into a battle station mode operable by Optimus and several Mini-Cons. Optimus can also combine with his trailer to form a “Super Mode” robot that, when combined with Sparkplug, can fire a series of powerful lasers. Additionally, Optimus can combine with Jetfire and/or Overload in his Super Mode for additional power. [12]
Although the original Japanese incarnation of Transformers: Cybertron, known as Transformers: Galaxy Force, was produced apart from Armada and Energon, the series, as originally conceived by Hasbro, was as the third part of the trilogy. The English language dub of the series treats it as such. [13] Consequently, inconsistencies arise between Cybertron and the other two series, but have been explained by the Cybertron comic book, available exclusively through the Official Transformers Collectors Club, as the result of fluctuations in the fabric of reality caused by the Unicron-induced black hole.
In this incarnation, Optimus Prime is the main protagonist and shows a near-xenophobic reluctance with interacting with other cultures, believing that such interaction would cause more harm than good. Consequently, he prohibits his team from mingling with the locals of Earth, Velocitron, and the Jungle Planet during their search for the Cyber Planet Keys. This attitude was drastically changed when Prime realized that the only way to acquire the Cyber Planet Keys from Velocitron and Animatros was to play by their laws.
Early in this new series of encounters with Megatron, Red Alert contacted the Autobots on Earth and asked for Optimus Prime to join then on Velocitron. Ransack and Crumplezone tricked Hot Shot and Dirt Boss into believing that a race between them would determine which of them would be allowed to race Override for the Planet Cup. During the race, Ransack and Crumplezone caused a rockslide that buried Hot Shot. Hot Shot was saved when Optimus Prime, Vector Prime, and Landmine arrived, but Optimus was upset that Hot Shot had become involved with the locals. Clocker and Brakedown were eager to help the Autobots. After being unable to obtain the Planet Cup from Override herself, Optimus Prime endorsed Hot Shot’s plan to win the cup in a race with the aide of the other Autobots. Ransack and Crumplezone were contacted by Megatron and were told to keep on eye on things. They also decided to enter the race, either to win the cup and cause as much damage as they could to the other racers. Override, Dirt Boss, Ransack, Crumplezone, Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, Red Alert, Landmine, Clocker, and Brakedown participated in the qualification round. In the final episode, Optimus Prime proposed a new Space Bridge project using the power of the four Cyber Planet Keys and the four great Cybertronian ships. Many Autobots and former Decepticons joined in the project. Jetfire was left in charge of Cybertron as Optimus Prime led the Atlantis with the Earth Cyber Planet Key, joined by Red Alert, Safeguard, Scattershot, Leobreaker, Menasor, and Heavy Load.
Transformers film series
In the online CGI cartoon Cyber Missions produced by TG Studios for Hasbro’s website, Optimus is once again seen fighting Megatron, this time with some help from Sideswipe. Optimus also helps Ironhide against Mindwipe.
Transformers Animated
Optimus PrimeTransformers characterOptimus Prime in the Transformers Animated seriesVoiced by (English)David KayeVoiced by (Japanese)Hiroki TakahashiIn-universe informationAffiliationAutobotSub-groupActivators, Bumper Battlers, Deluxe Vehicles, Micro Vehicles, Voyagers, Supreme VehiclesFunctionAutobot Leader, Team CommanderRank8PartnerBumblebee, Rodimus Minor, Ratchet, Bulkhead, and ProwlMotto”Freedom is the Right of All Sentient beings”. “As a team we can accomplish anything. ” (Deluxe Figure)”While I function, Earth is under my protection. ” (Voyager Figure)”Bring it on, Decepticons! ” (Bumper Battlers)Alternate modesCybertronian Cab-Over Truckfuturistic Semi-trailer truck/Fire Truck
Optimus Prime appears in the Transformers Animated series in 2008 as a red semi-trailer truck, able to be fitted with many “trailer” attachments, most notably one that effectively makes him a fire truck. Unlike the other Optimus Primes, this one is much younger. [14]
Optimus has the ability to change any part of his robotic body into a tool or gadget. He has swing lines in his wrists. His wrists can also fire capture bolas. His arsenal includes a grappler, fire extinguisher and a negative friction spray. Unlike in all the previous series, his face can almost always be seen, because his mouthplate is retractable like in the 2007 live-action film.
Animated Optimus Prime, in an Earth-based fire truck mode, appears as a hidden character in the Transformers Netjet video game by Hasbro. Instead of being the leader of the Autobots, Prime was actually a washout from the Elite Guard. Despite no longer being a member, he maintains his military ranking of “Prime”. The scale chart released for the series indicates Optimus Prime stands about 22 feet tall. [15]
In the lead up to the premiere of the Japanese translation of this series, TakaraTomy marketing director Masahiko Yamazaki indicated changes would be made to place it as a prequel to the 2007 Transformers live-action film. This would have made this version of Optimus Prime an earlier version of the film character. In practice, however, the only changes that were made consisted of trimming for time to allow additional promotional material to be added to the start and end, and the name change of Bulkhead into “Ironhide” (with Ironhide becoming “Armorhide”). The future 22nd century Detroit setting and characterizations of the cast remain as they were in the original production.
In the animated series, Optimus Prime was originally in the Autobot Academy and friends with Sentinel Prime and Elita One. When Elita is lost on a planet dominated by a giant spider-like aliens, he blames himself for leaving her behind, where she supposedly dies in the explosion of a wrecked Decepticon warship loaded with Energon. Sentinel doesn’t forgive him for losing her and Optimus takes full responsibility for Elita’s demise. This caused Optimus Prime to wash out of the Autobot Academy. However, Ultra Magnus pulls some strings so that Optimus Prime could be captain of a strange Space Bridge repair crew composed of a war vet named Ratchet, a fledgling cadet named Bumblebee, and his fellow cadet Bulkhead. Optimus is given command of the starship which is the vehicle mode of Omega Supreme.
The series begins when Optimus and his crew, after picking up a disillusioned ninja named Prowl, are sent to clear rubble from a space bridge passage. There, the Autobots stumbled upon the Allspark and are immediately attacked by Megatron’s battlecruiser, the Nemesis. Through treachery by Megatron’s second-in-command, Starscream, Megatron was fragged and the Autobots crashed on Earth in the early 21st century. After being in stasis under Lake Erie for 50 years, the Autobots awaken in Detroit of the near future, where they immediately discovered humans in need and became heroes of the city after stopping a Sumdac Industries experiment gone wrong. During the battle for the possession of the Allspark, Optimus goes offline after defeating Starscream, only to be revived by Sari Sumdac and her Allspark-infused key.
In “Endgame” 2-parter, Ratchet builds Optimus a jetpack a
Frequently Asked Questions about is autobot robot legit
Do Autobots really exist?
Sadly, for now the story remains exactly that – a fantasy. While the Autobots and Decepticons have continued to duke it out on the big screen, real-life Transformers still remain largely in disguise. However, some engineers across the world are making significant progress in their attempts to create robot vehicles.Jun 23, 2017
Are Transformers robots possible?
Transformers aren’t necessarily practical or even possible on a large scale. But engineers at Himeji Soft Works have developed a small-scale robot that really turns from a car to a biped and back. You can see a video of this robot, including its transformation, at YouTube.Aug 10, 2006
Is Optimus real?
Optimus Prime, known in Japan as Convoy (コンボイ, Konboi), is a fictional character created by the Transformers franchise. … In almost every version of the mythos, Optimus is the leader of the Autobots, a faction of Transformers who are rivals of the Decepticons, another faction.
