In 1893, Richard Fiedler unveiled the first prototypes of the flamethrower to the German Army. Inspired by ancient ideas that date back to Greek and Roman times, the modern flamethrower emerged as a lethal weapon that required human operation, either at the infantry level or from tanks during World War II.
Now, a company called Throwflame has developed the Thermonator, a robotic dog equipped with a flamethrower cannon on its back. Priced at $9,420 with free shipping in the United States, this innovative device boasts advanced features such as one-hour autonomy, lidar obstacle detection, remote operation capabilities, and a flamethrower with a 9-meter range. It can be fueled with gasoline or diesel and has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a camera for remote control.
The Thermonator is versatile and can be used for various purposes such as snow and ice removal, ecological conservation, grassland burning, pest control, and entertainment like lighting bonfires at festivals. Originally created as a load mule for soldiers by Boston Dynamics, these robot dogs have also been seen carrying firearms and other equipment.
While some may view the idea of a flamethrower robot as unconventional