A US company is selling a robot dog with a flamethrower. The model costs less than 10,000 euros and is legal in several US states. In Germany, you should rather not buy the device.
A US-based company is taking orders for the world’s first robot dog with a flamethrower, simply called “The Thermonator”.
As Ars Technica reports, the Cleveland (Ohio) based company Throwflame is selling the strange robot dog for $9,420. That’s about 8,770 euros. It is a four-legged robot equipped with a state-of-the-art flamethrower on its back.
The hellhound is likely not allowed in Germany, but it is in many US states
What can the dog do? The dog is equipped with a fully electric ARC flamethrower, which is produced by the company “Throwflame” itself. The device weighs just under 20 kilograms and looks as if it escaped from Horizon: Zero Dawn.
The robot dog moves forward thanks to LiDAR. LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging and allows for distance measurement between the object and vehicle. The principle is based on laser signals that are sent into the environment and their reflections are analyzed. This technology is primarily used today in the field of autonomous driving (via fraunhofer.de).
Is such a thing legal in Germany? No, in Germany you are not allowed to use such a device. According to German weapons law, items are prohibited if “gaseous, liquid, or solid substances leave the item intentionally and burning with a flame longer than 20 cm.” And the dog would likely fall under this category.
In the USA, however, this is different: IGN reports that the robot dog should be allowed in 48 US states. At least, the ownership of flamethrowers is not restricted by federal laws in most US states. Nevertheless, the company kindly points out that buyers should please inform themselves about local and state laws and regulations before making a purchase.
Other companies also seem to sense a big business in the robotics field. One company is currently building a giant robot that stands over 4 meters tall. However, very few private individuals are likely to be able and willing to afford the high price of 2.8 million euros:
Company builds you a 4.5-meter giant mech for only 2.8 million euros
