What could possibly go wrong by releasing this to the public on the country where you can get an assault rifle on the dollar store?

I didn't get an assault rifle, but I got walked out for trying to buy a Helicoil thread repair kit.

And there's no joke icon, because that wasn't a joke. It happened.

Fire is the ultimate weapon of war.

Chemical weapons, too hard to clean up when you need to take the position. Biological, uncontainable. Nuclear, too big and leaves fallout.

But fire, fire destroys all, fire feeds on everything the enemy holds dear, their forests, their crop fields, their homes, their precious works of art, their factories, their children, ect. All of these are consumed by the fire and converted into even more energy to inflict harm upon the enemy. And once it is over there is nothing left behind to stop you capturing the position, just harmless ash.

Send a swarm of these robots in and they can clear out a trench line without having to risk your own men. They are 1/3rd the price of an NLAW so you can treat them as disposable.

But they use fossil fuel. Not very green

Man I did not think of that, the military will not want them unless the can run on bio diesel ?

Did you have a war porn boner when you wrote this?

but entirely useless as a practical weapon I'd imagine.

What makes you think this is intended as a weapon ?

There must be dozens of legitimate non offensive uses for a flame throwing robot dog from hell.

Pest control comes to mind: politicians, HR/marketing droids, lawyers, celebrities...

/anon, because, you know, some people don't have a sense of humour.

I was think along the same lines but a bit closer to home and the dog format seems quite appropriate. Unfortunately the price is a bit steep and it would leave scorch marks on the lawn.

I have a practical use for it. Please include ordering instructions in future articles.

Wyle E Coyote

Absolutely delightful promo video

Wow! Never seen a dog pee like that before, but [1]apparently it [2]does happen to [3]people too, mostly because of [4]enlarged prostates ... (or not?)

[1] https://soundcloud.com/3muskaqueers/why-does-it-burn-when-i-pee

[2] https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/burning-urine-medical-treatment-services-6999378491.html

[3] https://firefighterinsider.com/urine-pee-flammable/

[4] https://www.webmd.com/women/dysuria-causes-symptoms

...is "ready for anything," says Throwflame, including wildfire control and prevention

"Prevention". That word. I don't think it means what they think it means.

Maybe that's the upcoming water pistol attachment

Actually it does. The best way to stop a wildfire isn't to try extinguishing it with conventional means, it's to put a firebreak in its path. One way to do that is with a back fire, a smaller controllable burn that uses up all the fuel before the uncontrolled fire can arrive. It's believed to be the origin of the phrase "fight fire with fire". These robots might be a good way to set back fires, as they can be deployed closer to the main fire without risk. This would minimise the area in which the wildfire must be allowed to spread to.

On the other hand: flamethrower dogs.

I mean, yes, you're not wrong. But they're planning on selling these things to the public.

The police regularly "defuse" bombs by blowing them up in controlled detonations. That doesn't mean giving random members of the public access to remote controlled cars with bricks of C4 strapped to them GTA style is a good way to reduce explosive related property damage...

Not the police. Army ATOs.

>>> On the other hand: flamethrower dogs.

...with laser beams

It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear! And it absolutely will not stop, ever ...

... well, for an hour, or when it runs out of petrol.

Or has to sniff the other flame-throwing dog's butt...

In the Second World War there were a number of tanks fitted as flamethrowers, one being the Churchill Crocodile.

If one of these nasty machines was knocked out the crew bolted for their lives, as it was known that anyone connected to the weapon was likely to be summarily shot. The same thing also happened if a soldier carry a man-portable flame weapon was seen, he could be the subject of massed incoming fire.

The same should be the fate of this monstrosity, get the largest slab of concrete or stone and squash the damned thing flat.

You could see a legit use backburning without endangering firefighters, but I doubt the robodog has the endurance to do that well. The main use looks to be putting dangerous people on the appropriate FBI watchlist.

Either this is exceedingly tongue in cheek or the biggest example of overkill since sledgehammers and nuts.

Well, there's still the hydraulic press and nuts . . .

... weird c u next Tuesday would think this a good idea and then go on to design and produce it? I truly despair of humanity.

An American?

When (and it's a definite when, not if), when they make a three headed version, I demand it be called Cerberus...

"Fluffy", Shirley?

If this isn't activated by screaming FLAME ON! then I don't want it. And they really should configure it so that the whole thing can be set on fire as it charges as the enemy.

$9500 - bargain. How much without the flamethrower? Kids are desperate for a dog.

Keep the flamethrower, teach 'em to respect animals before a (bear/cow/kangaroo/cassowary) does

We all know the prime market for this is paranoid billionaires building "survival bunkers", who'll want these as guard dogs.

Most of those billionaires are building these bunkers on islands that will be almost the first casualty of climate change, anyway, so it's a moot point. Basically they're another thing for rich idiots to spend their money on instead of paying their minions a living wage.

If COVID and its lockdowns taught us anything about billionairs' survival plans, it's not in 'Murica but in New Zealand.

I don't know if that terror-beast would be allowed there.

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/rich-americans-activate-new-zealand-pandemic-escape-plans/

New Zealand will need them to keep the billionaires out.

I initially wondered why you’d want a flamethrowing thermometer.

Hmm, well thats why I thought I heard that Boston Dynamics robot whisper 'walkies' as it wandered out of shot.

for the public to own one of these... erm, it's my birthday soon... hint, hint. ;-)

for the man who has everything. There must be any number of alternative phrases and suggestions that would sell this monster. Just a few samples: The ideal remote BBQ lighter! The modern way to start your traditional bonfires! Purchase the optional programmable action pack to automate your pest control tasks!

Sniper rifle

Assault rife

Grenade launcher

Anti tank rockets

These babies can do it all

What does it run on do we need more EV chargers ?

Let’s get this thing out there