Thermonator Is Here: Flame-Throwing Robot Dog Can Be Legally Yours for Under $10K

World, meet Thermonator, the flame-throwing robot dog in question, ironically named this way after another world-famous robot that was once part of the robot revolution that more or less annihilated humanity in one of Hollywood's most iconic franchises. The fact that the latest demo video is set to Aaron Hibell's Destroyer of Worlds Oppenheimer Remix only adds an extra layer of irony to the whole thing.

But here we are, living in a world in which robo-dogs aren't valued only for their utilitarian attributes but also for their flamethrowing-carrying capabilities.

Thermonator was introduced to the world last summer, with maker Throwflame saying it would become available for purchase later that year, effectively becoming the world's first flamethrower-carrying robot dog. Throwflame, which is based in Ohio, claims to be the oldest flamethrower manufacturer in the United States, with Thermonator being their fifth product so far.

Technically, it's their fourth, but with modifications. The ARC flamethrower, named this way because it uses a plasma arc ignition to throw flames at distances of up to 30 feet (9 meters), is now mounted on a robot dog, most likely a version of the Unitree Go2 robot.

If you buy these two on their own, you're looking at spending $3,000 at most, but Throwflame is bundling them together and sticking a $9,420 price tag on it. On the bright side, shipping is free of charge.

Thermonator's features list includes first-person view (FPV) navigation by means of an onboard camera, LiDAR mapping, instant ARC ignition, and laser sighting. It integrates WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity so it can be operated remotely through the company's app, allowing the owner to use their smartphone for that.

Thermonator also comes with obstacle avoidance and one-hour battery life. The latter might not seem like much, but we're talking about a robo-dog that shoots flames. A lot can and will happen in one hour.

Speaking of what can happen, Throwflame says that, while the Thermonator is "ready for anything," it's designed for stuff like agricultural management, ecological conservation, wildfire control and prevention, snow and ice removal, and entertainment and special effects.

Whether it'll be put to other, more stupid and destructive uses, is a good guess – and you're probably right if you're thinking that the answer is "yes." Flamethrowers are legally unregulated in the U.S., with restrictions applying only to two states. But there's no denying the damage they can do if they fall in the wrong hands holding $10K in cash.