In the US, a new robot is in the spotlight. It’s called the Thermonator, and it’s an amazing robot dog capable of shooting jets of flames over distances of almost 10 meters. Surprising as it may seem, this robot could come in extremely handy in certain situations.

Ohio-based Throwflame is the oldest manufacturer of flamethrowers in the US. Its latest product is undoubtedly also its most spectacular, a flamethrower-equipped robot dog capable of operating in particularly hostile environments.

Possible uses include forest fire management and prevention by lighting backfires, as well as agricultural management, snow and ice removal and even entertainment.

This is the very first robot dog to carry an ARC flamethrower. WiFi and Bluetooth compatible, the Thermonator can be controlled remotely. As such, the robot can access hazardous zones without endangering the physical integrity of humans. It is agile enough to avoid obstacles and features a laser sight for optimum precision. Its shooting range is claimed to be just over nine meters.

The cost of this “beast” is US$9,420 . Obviously, it’s not a toy and, in many countries, it’s not even legal to own a flamethrower without prior authorisation.

Robot dogs are already a well known concept, the most famous being Spot, created by Boston Dynamics. Today, it is mainly used for surveillance and maintenance in sensitive areas such as airports, warehouses, power plants, military sites and so on. It is also sometimes used to explore sites in the aftermath of natural disasters or industrial accidents.

 - AFP Relaxnews