Long-Range Mechanical Vehicle Control
Budget: $250 – $750 USD
I want my 2017 Mazda 3 (automatic) to be driven remotely through purely mechanical means. The brief is to design, build, and help me install actuator assemblies that press the gas, squeeze the brakes, and turn the steering wheel with repeatable, fine-grained accuracy—yet leave every wire, sensor, and the ECU completely untouched. Precision at the pedals and wheel is the absolute, non-negotiable priority; a smooth, proportional feel must be indistinguishable from a human driver.
The car will be commanded over a robust wireless link that stays solid for roughly 15 km. Dual-band or LoRa, diversity antennas, and hardware failsafes are all on the table as long as the connection behaves flawlessly and drops to a safe-stop state if anything glitches.
Scope you will cover
• End-to-end mechanical design in CAD—mounting brackets, linkages, high-torque servos or linear actuators, quick-release features to restore manual drive.
• Selection and integration of the RF system, receiver logic, and redundant power.
• Calibration, PID tuning, and bench testing until pedal position and steering angle track commands with sub-degree / sub-millimeter fidelity.
• Supervision (remote is fine) while I or a local fabricator install the hardware, followed by live performance tests.
Deliverables
1. Detailed drawings and STEP files
2. Bill of materials with sourcing options
3. Wiring / pneumatic / hydraulic schematics if applicable
4. Firmware or control code with comments
5. Test protocol and safety checklist
6. Recorded demo proving throttle, brake, and steering obedience at distance
Acceptance criteria
• Full stroke of each control in <150 ms latency over the 15 km link
• Zero ECU interaction confirmed by diagnostic scan
• Actuators revert to neutral when power or signal is lost
Timeline is flexible—I prefer getting the engineering right over rushing. When you reply, focus on the relevant experience you’ve had with automotive robotics, drive-by-wire retrofits, or long-range RF control systems so I can see exactly how your background fits the brief.
The car will be commanded over a robust wireless link that stays solid for roughly 15 km. Dual-band or LoRa, diversity antennas, and hardware failsafes are all on the table as long as the connection behaves flawlessly and drops to a safe-stop state if anything glitches.
Scope you will cover
• End-to-end mechanical design in CAD—mounting brackets, linkages, high-torque servos or linear actuators, quick-release features to restore manual drive.
• Selection and integration of the RF system, receiver logic, and redundant power.
• Calibration, PID tuning, and bench testing until pedal position and steering angle track commands with sub-degree / sub-millimeter fidelity.
• Supervision (remote is fine) while I or a local fabricator install the hardware, followed by live performance tests.
Deliverables
1. Detailed drawings and STEP files
2. Bill of materials with sourcing options
3. Wiring / pneumatic / hydraulic schematics if applicable
4. Firmware or control code with comments
5. Test protocol and safety checklist
6. Recorded demo proving throttle, brake, and steering obedience at distance
Acceptance criteria
• Full stroke of each control in <150 ms latency over the 15 km link
• Zero ECU interaction confirmed by diagnostic scan
• Actuators revert to neutral when power or signal is lost
Timeline is flexible—I prefer getting the engineering right over rushing. When you reply, focus on the relevant experience you’ve had with automotive robotics, drive-by-wire retrofits, or long-range RF control systems so I can see exactly how your background fits the brief.