A quadruped robot called Thermonator, equipped with a flamethrower, is now available for purchase in the United States. Manufactured by Throwflame, the oldest flamethrower manufacturer in the US, Thermonator is their fifth product and has been designed for various scenarios. The robot dog, likely a version of Unitree Go2, has plasma arc ignition that allows it to launch fire at distances of up to nine meters.
Residents of the country can legally purchase this flamethrowing robot dog online for less than 10 thousand dollars, except for those in Maryland and California. The device has a one-hour battery life, sensor for cartographic mapping, ARC ignition, laser aiming, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for remote control via a smartphone.
The team behind Thermonator named it after a fictional film robot that was part of a robotic revolution. Despite its intended purposes in agricultural management, ecological conservation, forest fire control and prevention as well as snow and ice removal, the device has generated a lot of interest and discussion online. It was showcased in a recent video set to the song “Destroyer of Worlds Oppenheimer Remix” by Aaron Hibell. Throwflame reported that the flamethrower would be available for sale by the end of the year.
