Jumps and fires up to 10m… Controversy over sale of flamethrower robot dogs

Sales of the ‘Flame Thrower Robot Dog’ have begun in the United States. It is a quadrupedal robot dog with a flamethrower on its back that can move around and emit fire. The manufacturer explains that this robot can be useful for removing weeds and melting snow, but its powerful performance has raised concerns about its weaponization.

According to Fox News on the 23rd (local time), Throwflame, a flamethrower manufacturer headquartered in Cleveland, USA, launched a robot dog equipped with a flamethrower around the third quarter of last year. The official name of this robot dog is ‘Thermonator’, which appears to be a combination of the root word thermo-, which is related to temperature, and terminator, which means destroyer.

Official sales began on the 19th. Currently, it can be purchased for $9,420 (approximately 13 million won) per unit on the Throw Flame official website.

Throwflame is promoting the Thermonator as ‘the first flamethrower-wielding robot dog.’

Specifically, the flamethrower attached to the robot dog’s back can shoot fire up to a distance of 10 meters. It can be used for up to 1 hour when fully charged, and can be controlled remotely using a smartphone using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Measures object distance and shape using cameras and lasers. Obstacles can be avoided as effectively as the robot dog is used. The company explains that it can be used for ▲wildfire control and prevention ▲agricultural management ▲snow and ice removal ▲entertainment such as special effects.

The video released by Throwflame when it began officially selling the Thermonator shows the Thermonator walking on snow and grass like a real dog and emitting fire. On dark nights, lights and lasers turn on. She shoots flames not only while standing still, but also while walking and running.

Concerns have been raised in some quarters about weaponization of this function. The War Zone, a military magazine, said, “If the Thermonator has powerful autonomous functions, it will be considered very attractive on the battlefield,” and added, “Handling a robot dog rushing into a trench is a very scary task.”

In fact, Throwflame has already hinted at the possibility of military use of the Thermonator through its website. At the bottom of the homepage, they put logos of the U.S. military and others, saying, “Please inquire separately for bulk purchases.” Accordingly, The War Zone said, “Considering the fierce battles taking place in Ukraine and other parts of the world, it will not take very long for the Thermonator or similar products to be used on the battlefield.”

In relation to this, Throwflame maintains that there is no problem with sales, saying, “Flame throwers are tools that are not subject to federal regulation, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) does not consider them firearms.” Regarding the fact that some states, such as Maryland and California, regulate the possession of flamethrowers, he said, “In these cases, customers are responsible for not violating local laws and regulations.”