What would you do if you woke up one morning and found that $10,000 had mysteriously appeared in your bank account, tax-free, for you to keep forever? While this amount of money probably won't solve all your financial problems, especially in this economy, you could treat yourself.
Here are some ideas: You could go to the world’s most expensive restaurant, which charges $2,400 per person a few times. Want a house? There are some prefabricated tiny homes on Amazon that could turn you into a homeowner. You could also invest the cash in an up-and-coming industry. Finally, if you're feeling daring, you could even buy a flame-throwing robot dog known as the "Thermonator."
The hottest name ever. Jokes aside, this product is real, and anyone can buy it. Last year, the Ohio company Throwflame revealed this unique robot dog, which is reminiscent of something out of Call of Duty. Now, it’s available for purchase in the U.S. for $9,420. While it’s not cheap, it’s not as expensive as Boston Dynamics’ Spot, which starts at $75,000 per unit and doesn’t even shoot huge jets of lethal fire over a dangerously long distance.
As you can tell by the name, Throwflame specializes in flamethrowers, which are federally unregulated tools in the U.S. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATG) doesn’t consider flamethrowing devices firearms, and most states don’t require a permit to use them. However, there are exceptions. For instance, in California, flamethrower owners need a license to operate them when they emit jets of flame over 10 feet. In Maryland, on the other hand, a flamethrower is defined as a “destructive device," which means you need a federal firearm license to own it.
We need to talk about Thermonator. The Thermonator is a four-legged robot that can be controlled remotely. It weighs 32 pounds and features LiDAR mapping, FPV navigation, laser sighting, obstacle avoidance, and a 1-hour battery life. It also supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Although the manufacturer doesn't specify whether it can operate autonomously, it has confirmed that robot dog comes with an ARC flamethrower mounted to its back.
Thermonator.
Thermonator.
A flame-throwing machine. The ARC flamethrower can blast fire outwards for up to 30 feet with the push of a button and can operate continuously for more than 45 minutes. It has an aluminum body and can be attached to different devices, such as a robot dog, a tripod, or a rifle. The company’s website states that owners can use both diesel and gasoline with the device.
Thermonator.
Thermonator.
What the heck is thing even for? While it may seem like an unusual invention, the flamethrower has several practical applications. The manufacturer states that it can be used for wildfire control and prevention, agricultural management, ecological conservation, snow and ice removal, and even entertainment and special effects.
Image | Throwflame