This flame throwing robot dog proves we’re all doomed

[Elderberry]

Navy Times By Sarah Sicard 7/14/2023

Along with the proliferation of artificial intelligence and the fear of human extinction it inspires, robotic capabilities continue to rise, so much so that even man’s best friend isn’t safe from the threat of replacement, courtesy of mechanized mongrels.

Almost 20 years ago, Boston Dynamics gave birth to the four-legged nightmare now known as “Spot.” And while the company signed a pledge to prevent the weaponization of such tools, other inventors just want to watch the world burn — literally.

A company called Throwflame, which manufactures flamethrowers — who’d have guessed? — revealed a robotic dog last month capable of spewing flames from its mouth like a creepy mecha-dragon. Its name? The Thermonator.

More: https://www.navytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2023/07/14/this-flame-throwing-robot-dog-proves-were-all-doomed/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh92JL0EBlo

[Kamaji]

Similar to the killer alien "dogs" in the recent War of the Worlds remake.

[sneakypete]

What purpose is a mechanical flame-throwing dog supposed to fill,and who  the hell would  even want one for free,never mind buy one?

BTW,am I the only one thinking the BATF would take an interest in this,and require huge registration fees from buyers?

[Elderberry]

And as Throwflame notes, “In the USA Flamethrowers are federally unregulated and not even considered a firearm.”

[The_Reader_David]

What purpose is a mechanical flame-throwing dog supposed to fill,and who  the hell would  even want one for free,never mind buy one?

I suspect the Ukrainian army would like a mecha-kennel full of the things as an aid in clearing Russian trenches.  I suspect there are also applications to setting backfires to control forest fires.

[sneakypete]

I suspect the Ukrainian army would like a mecha-kennel full of the things as an aid in clearing Russian trenches.  I suspect there are also applications to setting backfires to control forest fires.

@The_Reader_David

It doesn't require mechanical dogs to do that. Just forest rangers,or even aircraft.

[The_Reader_David]

@The_Reader_David

It doesn't require mechanical dogs to do that. Just forest rangers,or even aircraft.

Require?  No, but they could be useful and might keep human fire-fighters out of harms way in some circumstances.  Traveling from New York to San Francisco doesn't require any modern conveyance (as airplane, train, automobile), it can be done by stage-coach, on horseback or even on foot, but the modern ways are certainly useful.