Linear switch remote control?

Using Arduino Project Guidance
#1

Hey guys,

I have a project I am interested in designing and building for my home theater, and I figured it may involve servos. I am trying to toggle a switch on the back of a pair of speakers via remote control.

The speakers are physically out of reach, so I'd like to control a switch on the back of them (possibly with a linear servo?)

I would also need something to plug into the arduino to enable remote control from a Harmony remote or something similar to actually perform the action.

Here is something I found for a remote control: (would this work?)

Also, here's a servo I found. Is this what I would need? overkill? underkill?

http://bit.ly/1zpEdW1

Here is the photo of the speakers I wish to control:

http://united-music.by/images/8965.jpg

It may be hard to see, but the top switch on the back that says "input" is what I would need to toggle, as I would have both types of connections active in my setup.

I have a background in programming and a degree in electrical engineering, so I believe I can hit the ground running once I figure out the mechanical aspects of it.

Any suggestions on approach or links to equipment would be great. Thanks!

#2

Can you get at the wiring to the switch and perhaps use a relay to act as a parallel switch?

There is a library (can't remember the name) for Arduino's to recognize a large number of infra-red remotes. Google should find stuff about it.

...R

#3

pianofreq:
It may be hard to see, but the top switch on the back that says "input" is what I would need to toggle, as I would have both types of connections active in my setup.

I read it as input select, which makes the suggestion to intercept the feed to the speakers redundant.
Maybe you can find a service manual for the speakers (at the Roland site?) and find out how the switch is connected.
You might then be able to replace it with a relay.

#4

I have a background in programming and a degree in electrical engineering, so I believe I can hit the ground running once I figure out the mechanical aspects of it.

Any suggestions on approach or links to equipment would be great

Would it be silly to ask why someone with a degree in Electrical Engineering wouldn't remove the six screws
to look at the switch to see if it is really a DPDT or simply an SPST used to pull a uC input low ?

#5