4 ms·

What concrete needs can there be for a flamethrower? That isn't going to backfire (hah) badly.

josefresco 2y ago
FTA: "The company lists possible applications of the new robot as "wildfire control and prevention," "agricultural management," "ecological conservation," "snow and ice removal," and "entertainment and SFX." But most of all, it sets things on fire in a variety of real-world scenarios."
ThrowawayTestr 2y ago
Clearing weeds and other grasses
IncreasePosts 2y ago
Farmers use flame throwers near me to burn their fields
sandworm101 2y ago
Fire is tool. Sometimes you need to burn invasive species. Sometimes you need to start a small forest fire to prevent a bigger one (controlled burning). Sometimes you need to melt ice off a metal structure that you don't want to touch (HV electrical lines). This is just a safer way to deploy an already-used tool.
- codedokode 2y ago
  Are ordinary citizens allowed to "start a small forest fire"?
  - sandworm101 2y ago
    Not sure what "ordinary citizen" means, but all sorts of people are involved in forest management. There must be volunteer firefighters out there with the authority to conduct such burns when needed. And I have personally seen crews conduct burns in the pacific northwest, although only of brush rather than a full forest fire. Certainly some civilians can make legitimate use of this robot.
jimt1234 2y ago
Wildfire control. The biggest killer with wildfires, or any fire, is the smoke inhalation, and I guess this robot would be immune to that, which is pretty cool. (I got caught in a small house fire as a child. All I remember is not being able to breathe or see anything. I had to basically feel my way out of the house.)
- teeray 2y ago
  Literally fighting fire with fire
tekla 2y ago
To werf flammen
15155 2y ago
> What concrete needs can there be for a flamethrower? I think that this would be obvious: "Gee, I'd sure like to set something on fire over there, but I'm way too far way to get the job done. If only I had something that would throw flame..."

FTA: "The company lists possible applications of the new robot as "wildfire control and prevention," "agricultural management," "ecological conservation," "snow and ice removal," and "entertainment and SFX." But most of all, it sets things on fire in a variety of real-world scenarios."

ThrowawayTestr 2y ago

Clearing weeds and other grasses

IncreasePosts 2y ago

Farmers use flame throwers near me to burn their fields

sandworm101 2y ago

Fire is tool. Sometimes you need to burn invasive species. Sometimes you need to start a small forest fire to prevent a bigger one (controlled burning). Sometimes you need to melt ice off a metal structure that you don't want to touch (HV electrical lines). This is just a safer way to deploy an already-used tool.

codedokode 2y ago
Are ordinary citizens allowed to "start a small forest fire"?
- sandworm101 2y ago
  Not sure what "ordinary citizen" means, but all sorts of people are involved in forest management. There must be volunteer firefighters out there with the authority to conduct such burns when needed. And I have personally seen crews conduct burns in the pacific northwest, although only of brush rather than a full forest fire. Certainly some civilians can make legitimate use of this robot.

jimt1234 2y ago

Wildfire control. The biggest killer with wildfires, or any fire, is the smoke inhalation, and I guess this robot would be immune to that, which is pretty cool. (I got caught in a small house fire as a child. All I remember is not being able to breathe or see anything. I had to basically feel my way out of the house.)

teeray 2y ago
Literally fighting fire with fire

tekla 2y ago

To werf flammen

15155 2y ago

> What concrete needs can there be for a flamethrower? I think that this would be obvious: "Gee, I'd sure like to set something on fire over there, but I'm way too far way to get the job done. If only I had something that would throw flame..."