The Doom Buggy
Pest Control ROV
A 3D-printed dune buggy that hauls its own pump trailer, drives itself into the crawlspace on an FPV feed, and puts treatment exactly where a technician can't reach.
Anatomy of the Rig
Buggy and pump trailer, side profile. Numbers match the build notes below.
FPV Camera Box
Analog FPV camera streams live video to the pilot's goggles or monitor, so the buggy is driven through the crawlspace entirely by sight.
Roll Cage & Chassis
Printed in PLA. The cage keeps electronics clear of joists, ductwork, and debris overhead.
Sprayer Head
Remote-triggered nozzle at the front of the chassis puts a directed treatment stream anywhere the buggy can point.
Offroad Tires
High-clearance off-road tires and independent suspension climb over pipes, wiring, and uneven dirt.
Pump Trailer
A 1-liter reservoir and 5V diaphragm pump ride behind the buggy on their own axle, feeding the sprayer through a braided line.
Tow Hitch
A quick-release coupler keeps the trailer tracking straight through tight crawlspace turns.
Build Spec Sheet
| Material | PLA, 3 perimeter shells, 25% infill |
| Print time | ~15 days 180+ parts (buggy + trailer) |
| Footprint | 39″″ x 10″″ x 11.5″″ |
| Weight (dry) | 6.6 lb buggy + 2 lb trailer |
| Ground clearance | 0.5″ |
| Drivetrain | SURPASS Hobby C3530 1400KV Brushless Motor, independent suspension |
| Electronic Speed Controller | HobbyWing QuicRun 30A Waterproof And Brushless ESC WP-16BL30 |
| Control link | 2.4GHz RC, 5.8GHz analog video return |
| Camera | 700TVL FPV, 120° tilt mount |
| Runtime | ~35 min per battery pack |
| Reservoir | 1L (~34 oz) trailer tank |
| Pump | 5V diaphragm |
| Nozzle | High Pressure misters or direct spray pattern, 3 spray nozzles |
| Trigger | Remote channel from the RC controller |
Mission Profile
How the Doom Buggy came to fruition.
Inspiration
The inspiration and motivation for the Doom Buggy isn't hard to imagine. Anyone who has gone into a crawlspace under a house has had the same thought. There has to be a better way...there has to be someone else who could do this?
There is no doubt the idea of robot doing this was partially inspired by Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and the RC lawn mower, and partially the desire to have my own Battle Bot.
Planning
The thing about having your own battle bot, is they are very hard to safely test. And at the end I have a robot designed for destruction. I wanted something practical, functional and something reasonable for my limited experience in ROVs to tackle.
Enter 3dsets.com
As a 3d printer enthusiasist and business owner, learning of the 3dSets.com Dune Buggy seemed like a excellent platform to build this project upon.
Now, at the time there wasn't 4x4 trucks and heavy equipment sets to build on, there was only the buggy. So the buggy it would be!
Designing the rest...
Years of working in a pet store in my youth perpared me for knowing the requirements and limitations of pump sprayers. I knew I would want an electronically activated diaphram pump. These days there are USB powered reptile misters/controllers for sale and I knew that would mean our pump will be in right in the low voltage range that could be powered by an RC battery.
CAD Modeling the trailer and pump tank
From the moment I chose to use the Buggy as the platform for this project, I knew aesthetics were of the upmost importance. The trailer needed to look like it fit with the buggy. I studied local ball-hitch trailers in my neighborhood, took photos and opened Fusion for some CAD drawing and 3d printing fun. The tank itself was modeled after a large underground water tank and designed to look like it was stronger than it would need to be. Little threaded lids that unscrew for refilling just add the chef's kiss of 1:16 scale perfection.
Exhibition
Before filling it with poison and sending it on it's way, I wanted to share this experience at OpenSauce, a new expo for makers, backyard scientists, and youtubers. Sharing this project with the public was a wonderful way to get direct feedback, advice and make some wonderful new engineering minded friends.
Talking about the project for 3 days straight to hundreds of guests was an exhausting but life-changing experience. If you ever needed someone to pick apart your project bring it to an expo of over 500 maker minded engineers!
I also had the honor of printing out
BMOWIB for a friend who also exhibited and was right next me all show!
Photos
Printing
Painting
Painting
Assembly
3d Renders
Take the Wheel
Same rig, same job, none of the spiders in your collar. Drive the Doom Buggy under three houses and treat every inch of the interior foundation before the tank runs dry.
It Tows Like the Real Thing
The trailer tracks straight going forward and folds on the hitch the moment you reverse. Plan the turn or pull ahead and try again.
Headlights Only
The crawlspace is pitch dark. The beam shows what's ahead, and the floorplan fills in behind you as you explore.
One Liter at a Time
The tank drains while the pump runs, and the refill hatch is back at the entry. The far corners are a commitment.
Pest‑free.