Motorized blade help

Ok I'm helping my brother on this and I hope someone might have a idea on how it can be done. The blade nees to be set up where it will go in and out, like a assassin blade. In the photo it's in the closed position and where you see the drawing on the back box is where the blade is when it's in the closed position.

The back box is only 1/2" thick, and not much room in there as you can see from the drawing on it. So any way to motorize it where a button or trigger can be used to make it go in and out?

 

EDIT .....

 

Sounds pretty messed up to me. Pretty good excuse, too.....LOL