A method is provided for semi-automatic operation of a portable control device for a remote-controlled, unmanned vehicle. The method includes the steps of monitoring parameters of an operational environment of the portable control device, switching from a manual operation mode to a semi-automatic operation mode in response to occurrence of predetermined criteria within the operational environment, and presenting a semi-automatic operation graphical user interface to a user of the portable control device. The semi-automatic operation graphical user interface includes a reduced set of user interfaces for the semi-automatic operation mode presented by the portable control device.