The present invention provides a method as defined in claim 1. The method may include the features of any one or more of dependent claims 2 to 4.

The present invention provides a device as defined in claim 5. The device may include the features of any one or more of dependent claims 6 to 9.

A method is provided for semi-automatic operation of a portable control device for a remote-controlled unmanned vehicle. The method includes the steps of monitoring parameters of an operational environment of the portable control device, switching from a manual operation mode to a semi-automatic operation mode in response to measured and weighted combination of detected inputs and the monitored parameters within the operational environment, and, while in the semi-automatic operation mode, presenting a semi-automatic operation graphical user interface to a user of the portable control device. The semi-automatic operation graphical user interface includes a reduced set of user input requirements and a reduced set of information displayed for the semi-automatic operation mode presented by the portable control device.

In addition, a portable control device is provided for remotely controlling a unmanned vehicle. The portable control device includes a graphic user interface (GUI) and a controller. The GUI presents information thereon to a user of the portable control device and receives user inputs thereby. The controller is coupled to the GUI and controls the operational mode of the portable control device. The controller switches from a manual operation mode to a semi-automatic operation mode in response to a measured and weighted combination of detected inputs and the monitored parameters within the operational environment of the portable control device (including user control of modes) and provides GUI operational signals to the GUI device for presenting a semi-automatic operation graphical user interface to the user while in the semi-automatic operation mode, the semi-automatic operation graphical user interface including a reduced set of user input requirements and a reduced set of information displayed for the semi-automatic operation mode presented by the portable control device.

Further, an unmanned vehicle system is provided which includes a remote-controlled unmanned vehicle and a portable control device. The portable control device is coupled to the unmanned vehicle, providing operational control signals thereto and receiving operational parameter signals and video signals therefrom. The unmanned vehicle includes communication circuitry, a movement control module, an unmanned vehicle controller, and a visual recording module. The communication circuitry of the unmanned vehicle receives operational control signals from the portable control device and transmits operational parameter signals and visual signals to the portable control device. The movement control module controls the movement of the unmanned vehicle in response to movement control signals and generates a first portion of the operational parameter signals in response to operation of the movement control module. The surveillance vehicle controller is coupled to the communication circuitry. In addition, the surveillance vehicle controller is coupled to the movement control module and generates the movement control signals in response to a first portion of the operational control signals. The visual recording module records visual signals representative of one or more views from the unmanned vehicle in response to visual control signals and generates a second portion of the operational parameter signals in response to operation of the visual recording module. The unmanned vehicle controller is also coupled to the visual recording module and generates the visual control signals in response to a second portion of the operational control signals. The portable control device includes communication circuitry, a graphic user interface (GUI), and a portable control device controller. The communication circuitry of the portable control device receives the operational parameter signals and the visual signals from the unmanned vehicle and transmits the operational control signals. The GUI presents visual information to a user of the portable control device and receives user inputs thereby. The portable control device controller is coupled to the GUI and controls the operational mode of the portable control device. The portable control device controller monitors an operational environment of the portable control device and switches from a manual operation mode to a semi-automatic operation mode in response to a measured and weighted combination of detected inputs and monitored parameters within the operational environment of the portable control device, the controller providing GUI operational signals to the GUI for presenting a semi-automatic operation graphical user interface to the user while in the semi-automatic operation mode, the semi-automatic operation graphical user interface including a reduced set of user interfaces for the semi-automatic operation mode presented by the portable control device.