Turning a dumb AC unit smart (without losing my security deposit)

TL;DR: DIY home automation is ezpz with nothing more than a stepper motor, an esp32, and a high tolerance for Jank. My rental apartment’s AC unit can only be controlled using these retro-looking analog knob-based controls, mounted right onto the unit. No separate wall-mounted thermostat, no remote control… nothin’ fancy whatsoever. These knobs work… but having to constantly stand up and fiddle with them gets annoying pretty quick. Fortunately, there&