In order to do this I plan to:
1) Use a USB transmitter (like used in RC flight simulators http://www.hobbypartz.com/60p-dyu-1002.html) for pilot input
- a) Could connect it to a laptop
b) Could connect it to a microcontroller (it was pretty easy to do that with a USB joystick using : http://apple.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/ftdichip?op=catalogue-products-null&prodCategoryID=66&title=VDIP2 )
This would also make it easier to input precise controls on the fly such as go 50 knots, or maintain 5 degrees pitch, or go to 145m altitude, or go back to (lat, lon), or any number of things. These types of inputs could be numerical inputs on a ground station. But you could also fly the vehicle with your sticks if you wanted to.
If anyone else has ideas or is interested in trying this as well, I'm going to try and code something up. I'm not the best coder though, so help is hereby solicited!
-Chris