DIY Pneumatic Doggo Door with RFID Security for Good Bois

A dog door is a great way to give your dog the independence that it deserves to go to the backyard at will. But, dog doors also represent a security risk, because a burglar can simply crawl through. The best solution would be to lock it like any other door, but even the best dogs tend to lack the dexterity necessary to insert and turn a key. That’s why YouTuber Mack Tech built a pneumatic dog door that opens with an RFID tag on the dog’s collar.

Mack Tech’s dog is a big thicc boi, and needs a big dog door — easily big enough for a shifty ne’er-do-well to squirm through. Mack Tech needed a way to secure the door, while still allowing his good, good doggo to pass through unhindered. His design can be divided into two major systems: the RFID-triggered pneumatic locks, and the pneumatic rams that slide the door open.

The whole system is controlled by an Arduino Nano hidden behind a clock above the dog door. When it detects the correct RFID tag, the Arduino triggers solenoids to unlock the door, and then pneumatic rams to open it. When the door is open, a curtain of IR sensors will detect if the pup is in the door and keep it from closing. Once he passes through, the door slides back down and locks again. It is a bit loud, but the puppers doesn’t seem to mind at all, and he can now happily enter and exit as he sees fit.