Simulator

A Simulator is a non-sentinent mechanoid used by Cybertronians to practice combat in relative safety. Training drones are controlled from a remote station, allowing a variety of tactics to be utilized, and are equipped with a hologram generator capable of simulating the appearance of selected Cybertronians.

Season 2 1/2
In Strongarm's Big Score, Sideswipe and Strongarm used a simulator, controlled by Fixit and holographically utilizing the appearance of Thunderhoof, for a practice session in the scrapyard, much to Denny Clay's discomfort when the simulator started throwing vintage refrigerators around. Damage to the control panel resulted in the simulator going berserk, nearly stomping Strongarm before Sideswipe kicked its head off, ending the simulation.

Trivia

 * Minus the Thunderhoof hologram, the simulator bears a more-than-uncanny resemblance to the auto-combatant from The Transformers: The Movie.