Camera, laser, headlamp… what is the Thermonator, this first fire-breathing robot dog on sale in the United States ?

Le quadrupède est couplé à un lance-flammes ARC. Capture d'écran YouTube

Throwflame, une entreprise de l’Ohio, aux États-Unis, commercialise un nouveau type de chien de garde, le Thermonator, un chien robot lance-flammes.

Throwflame, a company from Ohio, United States, recently put the Thermonator on its site, a robot dog capable of spitting flames more than 9 meters away with precision controlled by a live camera and has an autonomy of one to one and a half hours. It can also jump, avoid obstacles thanks to its laser vision, use a headlamp and run 10 km/h, reports Numerama.

Equipped with a flamethrower

This machine is not an original design by Throwflame, but that of another start-up, Unitree Robotics, which manufactures all kinds of robots. Specializing in the design of flamethrowers, Throwflame therefore purchased one of their models, the Go2 robot dog and added the ’flamethrower" on his back. It can thus "provide fire on demand and anywhere". Officially presented in May 2023, this device would be the first of its kind, according to its manufacturer.

The 2.0 canine capable of setting fire to everything in its path can be purchased without a license or certification in all American states, except Maryland and California where a license is required. As the robot is not considered a firearm, it is sold as a simple consumer product for the sum of 9,420 dollars, or 8,500 euros.

The American firm details all the possible uses of the Thermonator on its site. "Forest fire control and prevention, agricultural management, defrosting, entertainment and special effects", we can read in the presentation sheet.

An object prohibited in France

In France, the possession of a flamethrower is strictly prohibited without authorization since’it’ This is a category A firearm. Article 222-52 of the Penal Code provides for penalties of up to five years of imprisonment. prison and 75 000 € fine for any acquisition or possession of such weapons without authorization, underlines Numerama.