Scripting dialout?

I apologise if the answer to this elsewhere - a look through the documentation did not reveal it.

Is it possible to script Asterisk or an Asterisk add-on to dial out, play DTMF tones at various intervals and record some of what it hears? In other words, to use it to drive some sort of remote interactive system? Or should I be looking at different software?

(I promise that this application does not involve cold-calling innocent people and playing adverts at them, or any other sort of nefarious activity.)

Asterisk can do this. Check the wiki at voip-info for more documentation.

You could probably do this with the senddtmf, wait, and record commands.