System, apparatus, and method for controlling a work vehicle

A system for remotely controlling manually operable control elements of a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a control apparatus mounted within the vehicle and mechanically engaged with at least one manually operable control element of the vehicle;
• a control circuit module configured to receive commands from a control source and configured to output command signals;
• at least one control actuator in signal communication with the control circuit module, the at least one control actuator responsive to the command signals output by the control circuit module;
• wherein the at least one manually operable control element includes:
• a joystick control element movable in fore and aft directions and in right and left lateral directions;
• or
• a PTO control element capable of engaging a PTO of the vehicle, the PTO control element having a shaft, a top button and a flange, whereby to engage the PTO of the vehicle, the top button is pushed downward and the flange is lifted upward;
• wherein the control apparatus includes:
• a joystick control apparatus engaged with the joystick control element, wherein the joystick control apparatus is configured to be manipulated by the at least one control actuator to move the joystick control element in both the fore and aft directions and the right and left lateral directions in response to the command signals output by the control circuit module based on commands received from the control source;
• or
• a PTO control apparatus engaged with the PTO control element, wherein the PTO control apparatus is capable of pushing down on the top button and lifting the flange of the PTO control element to engage the PTO in response to the command signals output by the control circuit module based on commands received from the control source.