VOLUME REMOTE

A wireless remote that physically turns a surround sound receiver’s volume knob.

Role: Design and build
When: Sept 2024, redesigned Feb 2026

Render of the receiver with the black motor mount on its volume knob, wired to a small driver board and a grey box beside it — Render of the setup

PROBLEM

The goal was to change a receiver’s volume from across the room by turning its physical knob.

APPROACH

Two ESP32s link the remote to a stepper motor that turns the receiver’s volume knob.
I designed a custom PCB in Autodesk Eagle with a display and low-power C++ firmware.
I modelled the motor mount in SolidWorks.

DESIGN

The receiver and the motor mount, modelled in Blender from a photo of the real setup. Scroll to take it apart, then watch the stepper turn the volume knob.

Render of the receiver with the black motor mount over its volume knob, the display reading -20.0 dB, and wires running to a grey box beside it

Knob attachment Slides over the volume knob
Stepper motor Turns the attachment
ESP32 In the box, taking the remote’s commands
Volume Turned from across the room

Rendered in Blender from a photo, so sizes are estimates. The receiver is shown without its branding.

STACK

Hardware and software behind the project.

Hardware
Area	What I used
Wireless link	Two ESP32s
Actuator	Stepper motor on a SolidWorks mount
Remote	Custom Eagle PCB with a display

Software
Area	What I used
Firmware	Low-power C++

RESULTS

First built in September 2024, then redesigned in February 2026.

Next project