Patent ID: 8478455

Claim:
A control station for remotely controlling an unmanned vehicle, the unmanned vehicle having a first data link, a vehicle processing system, a first vehicle computing unit and a route control system in communication with each other, the control station comprising: a control system operable to receive input for controlling the unmanned vehicle and forming corresponding data link messages and vehicle messages using a first protocol for subsequent transmission; a second vehicle computing unit in communication with said control system and operable to receive vehicle messages from said control system in said first protocol and subsequently transmit such messages using said first protocol and, when the vehicle processing system has a negative health, to transmit such messages using a second protocol suitable for communication with the route control system; and a second data link in communication with said control system and in communication with said second vehicle computing unit, said second data link operable to receive data link messages and vehicle messages from respective said control system and said second vehicle computing unit and to transmit and receive respective data link and vehicle messages to and from the first data link.