Patent ID: 7603207

Claim:
A method for controlling operation of a mobile platform, comprising: providing a mobile platform having at least one operating component for controlling said mobile platform, and adapted to wirelessly receive information and to wirelessly transmit information; locating a control station remotely from said mobile platform; locating a surrogate processor remotely from said control station and said mobile platform; communicating information from said control station to said surrogate processor; processing said information from said control station at said surrogate processor and outputting a control message; communicating said control message to said mobile platform to remotely control/command operation of said mobile platform; providing said mobile platform with at least one mission-specific device that is at least one of a camera, a control arm, a weapon, an entry door, and a landing gear; wherein said communicating information to said surrogate processor includes communicating instructional information for controlling said mission-specific device; and using said surrogate processor to generate a subsequent control message in response to wirelessly received operational information from the mobile platform, independent of the control station.