Editing Autobot (section)

{{short description|Faction of sentient robots from the Transformers universe}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{about|the Transformers faction|the unrelated Chinese animated film|The Autobots}}
{{multiple issues|section=|
{{overly detailed|date=November 2023}}
{{primary sources|date=December 2023}}
{{notability|date=May 2024}}
{{fan POV|date=January 2025}}
}}
{{Infobox comics organization <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| debut             = ''The Transformers'' #1<br />(May, 1984)
| image             = Autobot small.jpg
| imagesize         = 200px
| caption           = Autobot insignia
| publisher         = [[Marvel Comics]], [[Dreamwave Productions]], [[Fun Publications]], [[Titan Magazines]], [[IDW Publishing]], and [[Devil's Due Publishing]]
|organization= y
| owners            = Primus, Dynasty of Primes, [[Optimus Prime]], [[Rodimus|Rodimus Prime]], [[Sentinel Prime (Transformers)|Sentinel Prime]], [[Ultra Magnus]], [[Bumblebee (Transformers)|Bumblebee]]
| fullroster        =
|base               = Cybertron, Earth, Iacon, Autobot City (G1), the ''[[Ark (Transformers)|Ark]]'', Cybertron Base (RID), [[Diego Garcia]] (ROTF), [[Washington, D.C.]] (DOTM), and Autobot Omega Outpost One (Prime)
|sortkey= Autobot
}}
The '''Autobots''' are a fictional faction of [[sentient robot]]s in the ''[[Transformers (fiction)|Transformers]]'' multimedia franchise. The Autobots are living robots from the planet Cybertron who, like most Transformers, are each imbued with a unique "life force" known as a "spark."<ref name=":1">Furman, Simon (2004). ''Transformers: The Ultimate Guide''. DK Publishing Inc. pp. 18–19. {{ISBN|978-1-4053-0461-0}}</ref><ref name=":2">[[List of Beast Wars episodes|''Transformers: Best Wars.'' "The Spark."]] (Season 1, Episode 15). Original air date: November 11, 1996.</ref> Led by [[Optimus Prime]] in most stories, the Autobots believe that "[[freedom]] is the right of all sentient life"<ref name=":1" /><ref>''The Transformers Universe'' vol. 1 issue #3. Published by [[Marvel Comics]], 1987.</ref> and are often engaged in a [[civil war]] with the [[Decepticon]]s, a faction of Transformers dedicated to military conquest and usually headed by [[Megatron]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Transformers: Autobots Review |publisher= IGN |url= http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/800/800069p1.html |access-date= 2010-09-09}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=A brief history of the Transformers |work=Malaysia Star |date=2004-11-09 |url=http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/11/9/features/20041108160036&sec=features |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051112214858/http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=%2F2004%2F11%2F9%2Ffeatures%2F20041108160036&sec=features |url-status=dead |archive-date=2005-11-12 |access-date=2010-10-09 }}</ref><ref name="Mania.com">{{cite news |title= DVD Review: Transformers The Complete First Season 25th Anniversary |publisher= Mania.com |url= http://www.mania.com/dvd-review-transformers-complete-first-season-25th-anniversary_article_115714.html |access-date= 2010-10-09 |archive-date= 2009-06-20 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090620060816/http://www.mania.com/dvd-review-transformers-complete-first-season-25th-anniversary_article_115714.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> In a [[mirror universe]] portrayed in ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass]]'', the Autobots are villains opposed by the heroic Decepticons.

The transformation cog ("T-cog") and the living metal of each transformer's body allows them to change from their natural robotic body into an "alternate mode" based on some form of technology or life that they have scanned. When they were first introduced, most Autobots transformed into [[car]]s, [[trucks]] and other road vehicles.<ref name=":6">''[[The Transformers (TV series)|The Transformers]]'' (1984 US animated series).</ref> Over time, Autobots have been introduced with alternate modes that include [[aircraft]], [[weapons]], robotic [[animals]], or a variety of devices (such as music equipment or microscopes). In most ''Transformers'' media, the Autobots originally transform into alien-style vehicles and technology native to their home planet Cybertron, but they later adopt alternate forms based on human technology after journeying to Earth.<ref name=":6" />

In the [[Transformers (film series)|live action films series]], as well as in the CGI-animated series ''[[Transformers: Prime]]'', the title '''Autobots''' is explained to be the short version of the title "'''Autonomous Robotic Organisms'''." In [[Japan]], the Autobots are called {{nihongo|"'''Cybertrons'''"|サイバトロン|Saibatoron}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Bellomo |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CF8AjVJXvH0C&q=autobot+cybertrons+in+japan&pg=PA114 |title=Totally Tubular '80s Toys |date=15 September 2010 |publisher=Krause Publications |isbn=9781440216473 |access-date=24 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030726/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CF8AjVJXvH0C&pg=PA114&dq=autobot+cybertrons+in+japan&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi6noiL1tfXAhXIalAKHadzAEIQuwUIMTAB |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=dead |via=Google Books}}</ref> but are referred to as {{nihongo|Autobots|オートボット|Ōtobotto}} in the film series ''[[Transformers: Animated]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Prime]]''. In Italy, they are called "'''Autorobot.'''" The Autobot insignia is also sometimes referred to as an "Autobrand", a term that first appeared in issue #14 of the [[Marvel Comics]] series. The descendants of the Autobots, the [[Maximal (Transformers)|Maximals]] from [[Beast Wars|''Transformers: Beast Wars'']], are also known as Cybertrons in Japan.