Patent ID: 7343232

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for providing an operator of a vehicle with a plurality of control modes, wherein the system is configured to support transitioning between control modes during operation of the vehicle, the method comprising: receiving a first operator input that corresponds to a first control mode; generating a first directional representation of the first operator input; processing the first directional representation through a unified autopilot system so as to generate a first control output; mechanically adjusting a control component associated with the vehicle based on the first control output; receiving a second operator input that corresponds to a request to transition from the first control mode to a second control mode; transitioning from the first control mode to the second control mode; receiving a third operator input that corresponds to the second control mode; generating a second directional representation of the third operator input; processing the second directional representation through the unified autopilot system so as to generate a second control output; and mechanically adjusting a control component associated with the vehicle based on the second control output.