Temporal probe

Temporal probes are used by the Maximals to search time and space for transwarp signatures. Due to the way they operate, they may pass a particular planet in a stellar system more than once.

Beast Wars cartoon
Concerned about the missing Axalon and its crew, the Maximal High Council launched a number of temporal probes to search for the ship. One such probe happened to arrive in the exact star system and time period that the Axalon had ended up in, however Rhinox's first attempt to contact it failed. Knowing that the probe would pass by the planet again before leaving the system, the Maximals worked to erect a communications array on a patch of Predacon territory. Unfortunately the Predacons found out about it, and with the aid of Tarantulas's new transformation lock lens, destroyed the tower at the last minute. The probe sailed on, oblivious to the Maximals on the world below.

Dreamwave Armada comic
When Optimus Prime was mysteriously transported to another reality, his teammates concluded that a "clash of realities" had occurred and sent out their lone temporal probe to search the multiverse for their leader. After searching 75,890,007 universes, they found Optimus and a few Mini-Cons used null-reality pods to travel to Optimus's location.