[MetroMPG]

If it were me, I would set up a quick 'n' dirty test:

1) duct tape cardboard over the grille opening,
2) cut a hole in it
3) duct tape the original, imperfect actuated prototype in the hole,
4) hack together some code that sort of works
5) get some data of it working

... then forget about making the "good" version of any of the above and move on to my next distraction!