A method for maintaining control of a robotic vehicle when control signals from a main controller are lost, comprising: monitoring, by a detector circuit (506, 606), control signals from a main controller of the robotic vehicle to an electronic speed controller, ESC (502, 602), to detect a loss of valid control signals to the ESC; causing an auxiliary controller (504, 604) to begin issuing motor control signals to the ESC for controlling one or more motors to maintain control of the robotic vehicle in response to detecting a loss of valid control signals to the ESC wherein issuing, by the auxiliary controller, motor control signals to the ESC for controlling one or more motors to maintain control of the robotic vehicle comprises: executing a set of motor control instructions for issuing motor control signals to the ESC for controlling one or more motors to cause the robotic vehicle to perform a maneuver; determining whether the set of motor control instructions have been completed; and issuing motor control signals to the ESC for controlling one or more motors to cause the robotic vehicle to assume a safe mode of operation in response to determining that the set of motor control instructions has been completed; determining whether the main controller is capable of resuming sending valid control signals to the ESC by detecting whether the main controller has completed a reboot process; and causing the auxiliary controller to stop sending motor control signals to the ESC in response to determining that the main controller is capable of resuming sending valid control signals to the ESC. monitoring, by a detector circuit (506, 606), control signals from a main controller of the robotic vehicle to an electronic speed controller, ESC (502, 602), to detect a loss of valid control signals to the ESC; causing an auxiliary controller (504, 604) to begin issuing motor control signals to the ESC for controlling one or more motors to maintain control of the robotic vehicle in response to detecting a loss of valid control signals to the ESC wherein issuing, by the auxiliary controller, motor control signals to the ESC for controlling one or more motors to maintain control of the robotic vehicle comprises: executing a set of motor control instructions for issuing motor control signals to the ESC for controlling one or more motors to cause the robotic vehicle to perform a maneuver; determining whether the set of motor control instructions have been completed; and issuing motor control signals to the ESC for controlling one or more motors to cause the robotic vehicle to assume a safe mode of operation in response to determining that the set of motor control instructions has been completed; determining whether the main controller is capable of resuming sending valid control signals to the ESC by detecting whether the main controller has completed a reboot process; and causing the auxiliary controller to stop sending motor control signals to the ESC in response to determining that the main controller is capable of resuming sending valid control signals to the ESC. executing a set of motor control instructions for issuing motor control signals to the ESC for controlling one or more motors to cause the robotic vehicle to perform a maneuver; determining whether the set of motor control instructions have been completed; and issuing motor control signals to the ESC for controlling one or more motors to cause the robotic vehicle to assume a safe mode of operation in response to determining that the set of motor control instructions has been completed; determining whether the main controller is capable of resuming sending valid control signals to the ESC by detecting whether the main controller has completed a reboot process; and causing the auxiliary controller to stop sending motor control signals to the ESC in response to determining that the main controller is capable of resuming sending valid control signals to the ESC.