Control system for a remote vehicle

A control system for operation of remote vehicle having a main drive and a flipper drive articulated in a pitch plane, the control system comprising:

• a processor capable of communicating with the remote vehicle;
• a twin-grip hand-held controller for providing commands to the processor, the twin-grip hand-held controller including:
• a left grip that permits a user's left index finger, left middle finger, and left thumb to operate controls;
• a driving joystick for forward/reverse and left/right steering of the remote vehicle, and a first array of buttons, the driving joystick and the first array of buttons being manipulable by the user's left thumb;
• a camera joystick for controlling a camera pose of the remote vehicle, and a second array of buttons, the camera joystick and the second array of buttons being manipulable by the user's right thumb;
• a rocker control for controlling a flipper of the remote vehicle, the rocker control being aligned along a pitch plane parallel to the articulated flipper drive, and controlling a rotational position of a flipper drive;
• and
• a brake control that actuates a brake on the remote vehicle.

A control system for operation of remote vehicle having a main drive and a flipper drive articulated in a pitch plane, the control system comprising:

• a processor capable of communicating with the remote vehicle;
• a twin-grip hand-held controller for providing commands to the processor, the twin-grip hand-held controller including:
• a left grip that permits a user's left index finger, left middle finger, and left thumb to operate controls;
• a driving joystick for forward/reverse and left/right steering of the remote vehicle, and a first array of buttons, the driving joystick and the first array of buttons being manipulable by the user's left thumb;
• a camera joystick for controlling a camera pose of the remote vehicle, and a second array of buttons, the camera joystick and the second array of buttons being manipulable by the user's right thumb;
• and
• a mode button or toggle located under the user's left forefinger, right forefinger, left middle finger, or right middle finger.

A control system for operation of remote vehicle having a main drive and a flipper drive articulated in a pitch plane, the control system comprising:

• a processor capable of communicating with the remote vehicle;
• a twin-grip hand-held controller for providing commands to the processor, the twin-grip hand-held controller including:
• a left grip that permits a user's left index finger, left middle finger, and left thumb to operate controls;
• a driving joystick for forward/reverse and left/right steering of the remote vehicle, and a first array of buttons, the driving joystick and the first array of buttons being manipulable by the user's left thumb;
• a camera joystick for controlling a camera pose of the remote vehicle, and a second array of buttons, the camera joystick and the second array of buttons being manipulable by the user's right thumb;
• and
• one of a directional pad or a right button array for selecting among one or more predetermined poses of the remote vehicle.

A control system for operation of remote vehicle having a main drive and a flipper drive articulated in a pitch plane, the control system comprising:

• a processor capable of communicating with the remote vehicle;
• a twin-grip hand-held controller for providing commands to the processor, the twin-grip hand-held controller including:
• a left grip that permits a user's left index finger, left middle finger, and left thumb to operate controls;
• a driving joystick for forward/reverse and left/right steering of the remote vehicle, and a first array of buttons, the driving joystick and the first array of buttons being manipulable by the user's left thumb;
• a camera joystick for controlling a camera pose of the remote vehicle, and a second array of buttons, the camera joystick and the second array of buttons being manipulable by the user's right thumb;
• and
• one of a directional pad or a right button array for selecting among one or more autonomous assist behaviors of the remote vehicle.