Re: Radio communication
 

If the controller isn't going to have too many slides and switches, the xBee controller system is a good choice. You can get a variety of effective ranges, including one that's good to a mile or more IIRC, and the remote unit can be as simple as a battery, the xBee, and the controls. On the robot end, you can get an xBee to arduino or similar interface. This is how we run our air cannon, with an arduino Leonardo and xBee arduino shield on the robot side and a simple xBee controller, breakout, 9V battery, and various joysticks and buttons as the controller.