Boston Dynamics’ Spot is, for many, the original robot dog. While it’s a relatively benign design (mostly), its spawned several more lethal evolutions. There was the Spur, a rifle-toting creation from Ghost Robotics, and now there’s the Thermonator. You’ll never guess what that does.
If you guessed ‘walks around with a bloody great big flame thrower on its back’, congratulations on reading the headline. We’re not exactly sure why it exists but since you can pre-order it from a company called ThrowFlame — which specialises in flamethrowers of all types — we’re guessing it’s just a product for flame-throwing enthusiasts. There’s no actual demand for a robot dog that spews fiery death on command (yet).
Thermonator 2: Pre-Order Day
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that American law is lax when it comes to civilians possessing flamethrowers, which is how companies like ThrowFlame can exist. The company already offers back-mounted units, as well as flying drones that spit flames wherever you happen to be pointing them. A robot dog with the same ability makes a logical kind of sense.
Pricing for the Thermonator isn’t available yet but you can register your interest. If you’re determined to know what you’re getting, it seems that the robotic frame is the Unitree Go1 robotic quadruped, which you can buy immediately for the sum of about R50,000 ($2,700). That’s minus the flamethrower, of course. ThrowFlame’s own ARC battery-powered flamethrower does the job there (and it starts from about R13,000 on its own). It spits flames made up of petrol or a petrol/diesel mixture a distance of up to ten metres.
The company probably isn’t going to ask why you want a Thermonator of your very own if you’re an American. The laws don’t work that way there. But if you’re planning on importing one into South Africa, expect to be asked questions by the inspectors at Customs. Perhaps not too many, though. This is the country that pioneered the car-mounted anti-hijacking flamethrower, after all.